Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide annual subventions to support and encourage the work of the officially recognised veterans groups ONET and INUVA in 2008. [21986/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, or Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann Teoranta (ONET) has enjoyed the long-standing official recognition of the Department and the Defence Forces. ONET is dedicated to looking after the welfare of all ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces. A main objective of ONET is to ensure the welfare of ex-servicemen and women by way of providing accommodation to homeless members in need of such domestic accommodation and providing other assistance that may be required by way of advising referrals to the relevant agencies.

The Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) was formed in 1990. Membership is available to those who have successfully completed a tour of duty with a UN Force or Organisation. The Association is financed by membership fees, voluntary contributions and fundraising.

I can advise the Deputy that, in October 2006, in recognition of the valuable work of ONET and IUNVA and to mark almost 50 years of Defence Forces involvement in international peacekeeping with the United Nations, I was pleased to support the work of both organisations in the form of a once-off grant of €50,000 to each from my Department. The provision of annual funding to both ONET and IUNVA is part of An Agreed Programme for Government 2007. My Department is currently developing proposals to implement this from 2008.