Irish organizations in the United States that provide assistance to immigrants are to once more benefit from Irish government grants this year, [Ireland’s] Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern announced last week.
Last year, Ahern approved the highest-ever amount of funding for the Irish immigration centers in the United States. Grants amounting to $1.183 million were distributed among 14 centers in the country that engage in providing support and advisory services to Irish immigrants abroad on a daily basis.
Since 1990 the Department of Foreign Affairs has allocated over $6.8 million to the Irish immigration centers in the United States.
“This is a clear reflection of the government’s strong resolve to support the more vulnerable members of our community in the United States,” said Ahern. Funding in 2006 was up 29 percent. In 2005, it was close to double the amount distributed in 2004 and was more than three-times the funding available in 2003.
In the New York Consular area, Irish immigration centers that received funding last year were the Aisling Irish Center ($107,000), the Emerald Isle Immigration Center ($162,500), the New York Irish Center ($107,000) and Project Irish Outreach ($110,400).
“The helpful advice and information provided by the dedicated staff at the Irish immigration centers assist the more vulnerable members of our community in the United States,” Ahern said.
The minister went on to acknowledge the valuable services the centers provide “are of particular value to the undocumented Irish whose welfare remains an issue of deep concern to the government. We will continue to attach the highest priority to representing their interests in the period ahead.”
Application forms may be attained from the Irish consulates in Boston, Chicago, New York or San Francisco or alternatively at the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. The application form is also available online at www.dfa.ie. The consulates will offer advice and guidance to any group wishing to make an application.
Applications are due by February 16.
