Emigrant groups in US to get €1m

The largest level of funding yet provided for Irish emigrant groups in the United States has been announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern.

Grants totalling almost €1 million will be distributed among 14 community groups providing advice and support to the estimated 30,000 undocumented Irish emigrants in the US.

Mr Ahern said the 29 per cent increase in funding since last year reflected the strong resolve of the Government "to support the more vulnerable members of our community in the US".

He said the welfare of the undocumented Irish remained "an issue of deep concern to the Government". Mr Ahern added: "We will continue to attach the highest priority to representing their interests in the critical period ahead." He said the campaign to legalise undocumented emigrants was in some "flux".

This followed a fall in momentum after the passage of an immigration reform Bill through the senate in June, and the prospect of mid-term elections in November.

"These factors have complicated the issue. Things haven't gone as quickly as we would have liked," Mr Ahern said.

Asked why a significant increase in funding was coming now, the Minister said there was a commitment to increase funding to Irish emigrant groups in the programme for Government.

"And Brian Cowen, former minister for foreign affairs and now Minister for Finance has been flathúlach with resources," Mr Ahern said.

He also said emigrant groups in Britain had found that once they were given some resources by the Irish Government, "they could go to their local council in Birmingham or London or wherever and it helped open the door, the council felt slightly obliged to help as well".

The Minister also announced a $10,000 (€7,900) grant towards the costs of establishing a memorial in New York to the Irish soldiers who died in the Korean War. He also said grants were being awarded of $5,000 each to two web-based news and information sites aimed at the Irish abroad.