Grants totalling more than €750,000 to organisations providing support and advice to Irish immigrants in the US have been announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
He said this represented an increase of 40 per cent on last year and was more than double the amount granted in 2003.
"This reflects the Government's long-standing commitment to further developing our support for our community abroad," Mr Ahern said. "I can assure you that we will continue to support the Irish Immigration Centres as they expand their capacity to reach out strongly to Irish people in need."
The bulk of the €750,123 ($915,000) is being granted to 13 Irish immigration centres in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington DC. Speaking before a meeting with representatives of immigrant centres from across the US, Mr Ahern said: "On my return to Dublin I will be briefing the Government on the issues raised as my colleagues wish to be kept closely informed of the situation on the ground in the US."