Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the aid given to Irish emigrants living in Britain in the years 2004 and to date in 2010 on a yearly basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27658/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government continues to attach a high priority to supporting Irish communities abroad. In recent years, funding for the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is overseen by my Department, has substantially increased; from €4.1M in 2004 to over €15M in 2009. The primary focus of the Programme is on the provision of welfare and support services to vulnerable or marginalised Irish people abroad. This includes outreach to the elderly, and information and advisory services which enable Irish emigrants to access local statutory entitlements.

The welfare of the Irish community in Britain has long been a key priority of the Emigrant Support Programme, with over €51M allocated to projects based there since 2004. In 2009 alone, ESP funding was allocated to some 140 organisations in Britain.

The table illustrates the yearly breakdown of funding for organisations in Britain since 2004:

Due to the increased budgetary pressure currently being felt across Departments, the budget allocation for the Programme in 2010 has seen a decrease of 14%, to just under €13M. While this decrease is regrettable, it must be recognised that this allocation still remains significant and in excess of the levels of funding before 2007. We will continue to prioritise frontline welfare organisations which provide services to the most vulnerable and marginalised members of the Irish community abroad.

Applications from the British based organisations for funding under this year's Emigrant Support Programme budget are currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. I hope to be in a position to make a further statement about the amounts to be allocated to organisations in Britain in the coming weeks. 1: In 2004 grants were approved in Euro. Since 2005 ESP grants are approved and paid out in local currency, in an effort to minimise the effect of exchange rate fluctuations.