Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Emigrant Support Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding his Department's Irish abroad initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33222/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004 has greatly enhanced our capacity to develop and implement policies aimed at building relations with, and providing practical and financial assistance to, Irish communities overseas, across a wide range of important issues. Reaching out to and strengthening links with our communities abroad, and with those of Irish ancestry, is a cornerstone of Government policy. The funding of community groups working with emigrants is an essential and positive element in strengthening our outreach to the wider "Irish Family" worldwide. The very substantial level of funding now available to assist with the provision of services and support to vulnerable Irish men and women helps also to promote and sustain valuable community structures into the future.

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, €15.165 million was allocated to assist our communities abroad, an increase of 26% on 2006. While the needs of the vulnerable members of our community in Britain remain a particular area of concern, I am pleased that increased funding has enabled us to support a much wider range of initiatives, including capital projects, than was possible in the past. A particular area of focus relates to initiatives that support homeless Irish people. In this regard, the Simon Community estimates that the number of homeless Irish in central London has fallen from over 600 in 1999 to under 100 last year, and credits Irish Government funding with having played a key role in this. I find this very gratifying and encouraging.

As well as our continuing support for frontline welfare services in Britain and the United States, I am pleased that the additional funding available in recent years has made it possible for me to broaden the range of projects and extend the geographic reach of our activity. In the past year, for example, I have been happy to approve funding for Irish community organisations in other countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. This wider Government support represents an acknowledgement and appreciation of the role of generations of Irish, past and present, across the globe.

As we near the end of 2007, the plight of our undocumented citizens in the US continues to be of the utmost concern to the Government. The Government has been steadfast in its support for the undocumented. The Taoiseach and I have used every possible opportunity to advocate on their behalf and will continue actively to do so in the period ahead. Officials in the Irish Abroad Unit and at our Embassies and Consulates help to keep our people abroad in touch with Ireland. They also maintain close and interactive contact with frontline organisations that support our communities. This helps to ensure that the Irish voluntary sector around the world has an effective channel of communication with the Government and that everything possible gets done to advance the interests and well-being of our citizens overseas.

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