Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of efforts to address the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9703/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach and I have prioritised the immigration issue in the US since taking office. We will continue our efforts in this regard until we secure progress – both in terms of future legal immigration opportunities for Irish citizens; and in securing a pathway for those Irish who are undocumented in order to regularise their status.

Special Envoy to the US Congress on the Undocumented, John Deasy T.D., has worked closely on these issues with my Department, and with Ireland's Ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall, and his team at the Embassy in Washington DC in particular, since his appointment.

Building on this work, I visited the US in early February, for a series of engagements with the US Administration and Congressional leaders on the full range of issues of mutual interest. I raised immigration issues in these meetings, as I have done in all my interactions with the US Administration and US political leaders since taking office.

Additionally, I expect that the Taoiseach will have a range of engagements at the highest levels of the US Administration and with Congressional leaders over the St Patrick's Day period. Other Government Ministers will also be in the US over St Patrick's Day for one of our most ambitious ever programmes of engagement. They too are fully seized of the importance of securing relief for the undocumented Irish and will raise it, as appropriate.

My Department, including through our Embassy and Consulates in the US, work alongside the Irish Immigration Centres across the US to provide support to those Irish who are undocumented on an on-going basis. Each Irish Centre receives significant Government funding through the Emigrant Support Programme each year for its work, including support for vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. In 2018, over €3 million was allocated to 76 organisations across the US, including the Irish Centres.