2008-10-01 13:58:41 - Wednesday, 01 October 2008 - Minister of State and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has welcomed the allocation of grants totalling USD1,518,500 (EUR1,030,500) to 16 frontline Irish immigration organisations in the US.

Minister of State Killeen explained that the funding would help provide vital frontline support and advisory services to thousands of Irish emigrants, many of whom are from County Clare.

‘This latest round of funding brings the grants total for all Irish immigration and community organisations in the United States this year to USD3,163,500. These grants reflect the Government's continuing commitment to

Irish communities abroad, particularly to supporting the vulnerable members of our community in the US', he stated.

Minister Killeen continued, ‘I am delighted to see that the Government has allocated increased funding, again this year, to these frontline services. The organisations in receipt of funding are to the forefront in providing essential frontline services to Irish communities across the US, particularly to the elderly and those in need. They also work with the undocumented Irish, whose status remains an issue of the highest priority for me and one that I have raised at Government level both in Ireland and the US.'

Since the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs has allocated more than USD8 million to the Irish Community Centres and Organisations in the United States.

Funding of frontline Irish immigration organisations in the US - 2008
Funding Per Consular Area and Centre

New York 771,000
- Aisling Irish Centre 126,000
- Emerald Isle Immigration Centre 196,000
- New York Irish Centre 130,000
- Project Irish Outreach 112,000
- Irish Immigration and Pastoral Centre/Immigrant Support Services, Philadelphia 132,000
- Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform 50,000
- Commodore Barry 25,000

Washington DC 166,000
- Ocean City Irish Student Outreach 1,000
- Irish Apostolate 22,000
- Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres 68,000

Boston 372,000
- Irish Immigration Centre, Boston 200,00
- Irish Pastoral Centre, Boston 172,000

San Francisco 159,500
- Irish Immigration and Pastoral Centre (IIPC), San Francisco 130,000
- Seattle Irish Immigration Support Group (SIISG) 2,500
- Irish Outreach San Diego 27,000

Chicago 125,000
- Irish Immigrant Support, Chicago 110,00015,000

Total 1,518,500

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available