Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 181: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the financial support provided to organisations in London who provide support to Irish people in that city; if he will report on recent discussions and developments which have occurred between his Department and such organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40896/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The interests and needs of the Irish community in Britain are of particular importance to the Government. The strong commitment of the Government to support our community abroad is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services. This year, €12 million is being disbursed to assist our communities abroad, an increase of 45% on 2005. The allocation for next year is €15.2 million, 27% more than this year. Overall, this represents a massive fifteen-fold increase since 1997.

In addition, arising from a decision I took as Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs in 2000, €67 million has been paid out to over 14,000 Irish pensioners who benefit under the pre-1953 social insurance scheme, many of whom are living in Britain.

Most of the emigrant services funding is directed to organisations in Britain that are engaged in a wide range of community care activities of direct benefit to Irish people there. Increased funding is having a very tangible and positive impact. So far this year, 142 organisations in Britain have received grants amounting to €8 million; 56 of these are located in London and have received grants totalling €3.5 million.

Further applications for funding are currently under consideration and I look forward to making an announcement very shortly on additional grants. By the end of this year, I expect that funding to Irish community organisations in Britain will have reached the unprecedented amount of at least €9 million, an increase of some 25% on last year's funding there. The organisations receiving funding this year provide a range of services, ranging from informal community networking groups for senior citizens to organisations that offer outreach services and advice on entitlements. We will continue to support them in their invaluable work with, and for, Irish people.

Another important area relates to initiatives that support homeless Irish people. The Simon Community in London estimates that the number of homeless Irish in central London has fallen from over 600 in 1999 to under 100 this year. I was pleased to note that Simon credits the Irish Government funding with having played a key role in this.

That said, I remain very concerned about the plight of any person in this unfortunate situation, and am determined to respond to their needs. This is why I have approved grants so far this year exceeding €800,000 to organisations, including Simon, Cricklewood Homeless Concern and Arlington House that support homeless Irish people in London and provide critical follow-on support and outreach services to this particularly vulnerable section of our community there.

While the primary emphasis in funding continues to be on supporting frontline welfare services, I am pleased that the additional allocation has also made it possible to support a number of capital projects as well as projects which support our community in Britain in their wish to express their Irish identity.

Officials of the Embassy in London and the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department will continue to work very closely with our community organisations in London and elsewhere in Britain, to ensure that they can have a direct channel to Government and that our response to their needs continues to be effective in the period ahead.