Written answers

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Emigrant Support Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a list of the amounts drawn down to date of the emigrant services grants for 2009 and 2010 for Britain. [8572/11]

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedures in place to ensure that the emigrant services grants, particularly for 2009 and 2010, have been spent in the areas that they have been applied for and benefit the target groups in the applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8573/11]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together.

Through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), my Department provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas, with a particular focus on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants. Details of all grant recipients since 2006 can be found on my Department's website. €8,459,319 was provided to British-based organisations in 2009 and €8,135,668 in 2010 - a full list of grant recipients is set out in the table. Two organisations who drew down funding in 2009 subsequently returned money to the Department. The first returned stg£4,085 due to an under-spend on their capital project while the second returned stg£3,600 due to the cancellation of their proposed project.

As elsewhere, the emphasis of the programme's funding in Britain is on supporting frontline welfare services. The organisations funded provide a range of services, ranging from informal community networking groups for senior citizens to outreach services and advice in accessing entitlements. This support has had a very tangible and positive impact on Irish communities in Britain, in particular on the lives of our vulnerable citizens, a point acknowledged by the Simon Community and the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body, amongst others. In addition to supporting frontline services, the ESP has also supported a number of community and heritage projects and, through capital grants, invested in the strategic futures of these communities.

With regard to the procedures that are in place to ensure that the emigrant services' grants have been spent appropriately, I should point out that a stringent set of crtieria is in place to ensure appropriate use of approved funding. Once an application has been approved, organisations are required to sign a Terms and Conditions Contract which specifically sets out the terms of use of the grant and obliges them to return a monitoring and evaluation report to the Department within an agreed timeframe. The evaluation report allows the Department to measure progress on projects against the terms of the funding. Our Embassies also play a key role by remaining in regular contact with recipient organisations, including conducting formal and informal monitoring visits and meetings as required.

A 2007 Value for Money and Policy Review of the Programme, conducted by Goodbody Economic Consultants, found that the systems implemented to administer and monitor the Emigrant Support Programme worked well and the key recommendations made in the report have since been implemented. A 2009 audit of a number of ESP-funded organisations in Britain and the US by the Department's Audit Unit expressed satisfaction with the operation of the programme in respect of these organisations. All aspects of Departmental expenditure are reported on annually to the Public Accounts Committee and subject to unscheduled verification by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Emigrant Support Programme Grants to British-based organisations in 2009

Name of Organisation2009 (€)
Acton Homeless Concern (London)51,435.87
Age Concern Hillingdon (Middlesex)8,020.10
Aisling Project (London)113,382.42
Bell Farm Christian Centre (Middlesex)11,271.35
Benefits Advice Shop (Denbighshire)5,843.85
Birmingham Irish Community Forum139,189.49
Blackfriars Advice Centre (London)22,692.46
Bolton Irish Community Association20,760.52
Brent Adolescent Centre (London)31,485.79
Brent Irish Advisory Service (London)196,255.74
Brian Boru Club (Wigan)31,594.95
Bristol Playbus Project18,855.77
Causeway Irish Housing Association (London)25,691.19
Celtic & Irish Cultural Society (Crawley)20,278.17
Central & Cecil Housing Trust (London)63,013.15
Central Eltham Youth Project (London)27,230.95
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Liverpool)173,211.26
Conradh na Gaeilge, Glaschú (Glasgow)38,904.35
Corby Irish Centre49,293.73
Council of Irish County Associations (London)11,346.23
Coventry Irish Society130,659.78
Cricklewood Homeless Concern (London)220,273.82
Derby Irish Association31,126.02
Dewsbury Celtic RLFC54,851.63
Dewsbury Irish National League Club4,101.80
Eastleigh & District Irish Society36,724.26
Edinburgh Cyrenians18,750.48
Eireanns Ways (Glasgow)4,084.64
Emerald Circle Club (Harrow)3,506.31
Emerald Senior Citizens Group (Wolverhampton)8,181.39
Equinox (London)32,054.70
Federation of Irish Societies (London)659,215.98
Forest Bus (Southampton)5,728.67
Friends, Families and Travellers (Brighton)17,643.76
Full Irish Festival and Funday (Cheshire)5,162.53
Gael Music (Reading)8,509.67
Garngad Irish Heritage Group7,942.36
GEAR Project (Gloucester)23,375.41
Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association (London)6,661.99
Halifax and District Irish Society20,102.85
Halifax Irish Centre20,774.14
Haringey Irish Cultural and Community Centre (London)177,202.15
Haringey Irish Pensioners3,971.18
Harps Community Project (Glasgow)40,846.43
Haslingden IDL Club5,750.35
Huddersfield Irish Centre7,409.09
Huddersfield St. Patrick's Day Parade Association5,843.85
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) (London)205,650.50
IN-GB Association - Ireland Network Great Britain (London)5,843.85
Irish Centre Housing (London)114,708.32
Irish Chaplaincy in Britain (London)219,069.09
Irish Charitable Trust (London)193,022.44
Irish Community Care Manchester198,194.25
Irish Community Care Merseyside311,472.86
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith248,900.78
Irish Diaspora Foundation (Manchester)65,919.82
Irish Elderly Advice Network (London)102,619.21
Irish Heritage (Surrey)11,687.70
Irish in Greenwich (London)225,621.79
Irish Network (Stevenage)29,175.70
Irish Oral History Archive (London)83,688.64
Irish Repertory Theatre and Film Company (London)6,070.23
Irish Traveller Movement in Britain (London)136,000.45
Irish Tuesday Club (Liverpool)5,165.97
Irish Welfare & Information Centre (Birmingham)241,975.22
Irish World Heritage Centre (Manchester)43,172.04
Kilburn Irish Pensioners6,598.48
Lancashire Federation of IDL Clubs876.58
Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange52,809.03
Leeds Irish Centre Charity32,447.55
Leeds Irish Health & Homes171,183.98
Leeds St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebrations11,913.54
Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum46,598.88
Lewisham Irish Community Centre57,186.85
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Association10,402.06
Liverpool Irish Festival Society4,967.27
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit110,270.54
London Irish Amateur Rugby Club10,438.53
London Irish Centre Charity579,688.28
London Irish Music School7,597.01
London Irish Pensioners Choir4,242.64
London Irish Women's Centre88,639.55
Luton Irish Forum287,327.26
Manchester Irish language Group876.58
Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association4,675.08
Marian Senior Citizens Club (London)3,623.19
Milton Keynes Irish Centre37,857.65
Momentum Care Irish Elders Centre (Glasgow)111,348.76
Monica's Place (Birmingham)35,063.11
New Horizon Youth Centre (London)66,975.56
NOAH Enterprise (Luton)136,811.59
North London Action for the Homeless6,851.33
North Wales Irish Society7,012.62
Northampton Irish Support Group70,814.63
Nottingham Irish Studies Group1,168.77
Nottingham St. Patrick's Day Parade Festival Association10,778.92
Our Lady Help of Christian Homeless Project (London)65,234.92
Over 60's Pensioners Club (Camden, London)2,199.49
Oxford Irish Society2,507.42
Portsmouth Irish Society1,633.57
Queen's Park Senior Citizen Group (London)4,675.08
Reading and District Irish Association55,944.06
Rotherham Irish Society3,214.12
Safe Start Foundation (Middlesex)132,750.89
Sandwell Irish Community Association15,884.72
Sandwell Irish Society38,569.42
Sheffield Irish Association8,118.04
SIFA Fireside (Birmingham)46,750.82
Solace Women's Aid (Camden Women's Aid) (London)48,221.48
Southwark Irish Culture & Arts Development10,518.93
Southwark Irish Pensioners Project199,011.22
Southwark Irish Youth8,181.39
Southwark Travellers Action Group87,657.78
St. Catherine's Mercy Centre (Edinburgh)6,094.06
St. Michael's Irish Centre (Liverpool)97,175.45
St. Mungo's Community Housing Association Ltd London)34,642.03
St. Patrick's Day Festival Committee (Coatbridge)7,698.23
St. Patrick's Senior Tuesday Club (Leamington Spa)5,105.80
St. Theresa's House (Peterborough)28,629.94
Streetwork UK (Edinburgh)35,063.11
Tara Irish Pensioners (London)2,219.50
The Connection at St. Martin's (London)23,375.41
The Emerald Centre (Leicester)52,627.40
The Golden Shamrock Club (Nottingham)11,898.08
The Hibernian Society (Reading)44,413.28
The Irish Arts Foundation (Leeds)100,251.29
The Maya Centre (London)22,692.46
The Passage (London)41,981.05
The Simon Community (London)17,531.56
The Warrington Irish Club35,899.40
Tyneside Irish Centre66,440.27
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society25,128.56
Watford and District Irish Association24,161.86
Total8,459,319.35

Emigrant Support Programme Grants to British-based organisations in 2010

2010 (€)
Name of Organisation
Acton Homeless Concern (London)56,401.55
Age Concern Hillingdon (Middlesex)9,895.73
Aisling Project (London)117,616.39
Basingstoke Irish Society19,503.34
Bell Farm Christian Centre (Middlesex)12,124.15
Benefits Advice Shop (Denbighshire)6,053.27
Birmingham Irish Community Forum87,698.84
Blackfriars Advice Centre (London)23,257.17
Bolton Irish Community Association8,474.58
Bradford Irish Club Ltd6,053.27
Brent Adolescent Centre (London)33,595.64
Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS)224,296.80
Brian Boru Club (Wigan)44,552.06
Bristol Playbus Project9,111.21
Causeway Irish Housing Association (London)28,323.23
Celtic & Irish Cultural Society (Crawley)21,823.47
Central & Cecil Housing Trust (London)62,218.72
Central Eltham Youth Project (London)29,097.96
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Liverpool)174,753.88
Conradh na Gaeilge, Glaschú (Glasgow)41,939.86
Corby Irish Centre34,622.73
Council of Irish County Associations (London)6,133.17
Coventry Irish Society152,345.04
Cricklewood Homeless Concern (London)207,287.83
Derby Irish Association36,372.45
Edinburgh Cyrenians16,525.22
Emerald Circle Club (Harrow)3,637.25
Emerald Senior Citizens Group (Wolverhampton)8,474.58
Equinox (London)31,855.34
Federation of Irish Societies686,435.26
Feith an Cheoil School of Irish Traditional Music (Middlesex)4,849.66
Forest Bus (Southampton)6,207.57
Friends, Families and Travellers (Brighton)12,555.77
Full Irish Festival and Funday (Cheshire)5,455.87
Gael Music (Reading)4,243.45
Garngad Irish Heritage Group10,911.74
GEAR Project (Gloucester)24,213.08
Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association (London)6,900.73
Halifax and District Irish Society20,823.24
Halifax Irish Centre16,973.81
Haringey Irish Cultural and Community Centre (London)190,922.65
Harps Community Project (Glasgow)40,009.70
Haslingden IDL Club4,564.16
Huddersfield Irish Centre7,007.76
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) (London)225,894.76
IPN Scotland1,193.89
Irish Chaplaincy in Britain (London)223,609.51
Irish Charitable Trust (London)200,230.36
Irish Community Care Manchester214,529.06
Irish Community Care Merseyside299,401.94
Irish Community Services/ Irish in Greenwich)244,236.18
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith252,179.18
Irish Diaspora Foundation (Manchester)68,778.49
Irish Elderly Advice Network (London)106,007.26
Irish Heritage (Surrey)11,016.95
Irish Network (Stevenage)5,232.86
Irish Oral History Archive (London)97,743.34
Irish Pensioners Choir4,000.97
Irish Repertory Theatre and Film Company (London)7,516.97
Irish Traveller Movement in Britain (London)139,384.85
Irish Tuesday Club (Liverpool)8,491.53
Irish Welfare & Information Centre (Birmingham)215,436.47
Irish World Heritage Centre (Manchester)39,876.51
Kilburn Irish Pensioners5,435.84
Lancashire Federation of IDL Clubs2,267.22
Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange56,351.09
Leeds Irish Centre72,639.23
Leeds Irish Health & Homes180,071.53
Leeds St Patrick's Day Parade Association12,210.01
Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum71,013.32
Lewisham Irish Community Centre60,468.63
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Association10,463.14
Liverpool Irish Festival Society9,456.84
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit116,698.59
London Irish Amateur Rugby Club12,609.12
London Irish Centre Charity605,127.12
London Irish Music School4,849.66
London Irish Women's Centre90,506.05
Luton Irish Forum122,566.59
Manchester Irish Education Group1,271.19
Manchester Irish Language Group909.31
Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association6,053.27
Marian Senior Citizens Club (London)3,753.03
Milton Keynes Irish Centre19,297.82
Momentum Care Irish Elders Centre (Glasgow)116,570.22
Monica's Place (Birmingham)60,532.69
New Horizon Youth Centre (London)46,263.34
NOAH Enterprise (Luton)132,088.38
North London Action for the Homeless8,600.50
North Wales Irish Society7,516.97
Northampton Irish Support Group70,641.37
Nottingham St Patrick's Day Parade & Festival Association9,302.87
Over 60's Pensioners Club (Camden, London)1,212.42
Oxford Irish Society2,445.52
Queen's Park Senior Citizen Group (London)4,152.52
Rotherham Irish Society3,637.25
Safe Start Foundation (Middlesex)136,054.42
Sandwell Irish Community Association16,779.83
Sandwell Irish Society42,021.10
SanKTus (formerly Our Lady Help of Christian's Welfare )67,670.95
Sheffield Irish Association6,332.03
SIFA Fireside (Birmingham)48,426.15
Slough Irish Society35,077.48
Solace Women's Aid (Camden Women's Aid) (London)51,527.64
Southwark Irish Culture & Arts Development9,578.08
Southwark Irish Pensioners Project209,975.79
Southwark Travellers Action Group90,925.07
St Patrick's Day Festival (London)8,357.21
St Patrick's Day Festival Committee (Coatbridge)7,880.70
St. Catherine's Mercy Centre (Edinburgh)6,062.08
St. Michael's Irish Centre (Liverpool)71,515.52
St. Patrick's Senior Tuesday Club (Leamington Spa)6,053.27
St. Theresa's House (Peterborough)31,188.17
Streetwork UK (Edinburgh)36,319.61
Tara Irish Pensioners (London)1,210.65
The Connection at St Martin's (London)24,248.30
The Emerald Centre (Leicester)56,934.62
The Golden Shamrock Club (Nottingham)11,585.84
The Hibernian Society (Reading)41,162.23
The Huddersfield St Patrick's Day Parade Association5,811.14
The Irish Arts Foundation (Leeds)103,994.91
The Irish Club Warrington8,777.24
The Maya Centre (London)24,248.30
The Passage (London)44,173.83
Tuesday Club Leeds Irish Centre7,263.92
Tyneside Irish Centre43,268.77
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society26,029.06
West Hampstead Women's Centre7,352.09
Total8,135,669

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