Cowen announces funding for UK Irish groups

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, today announced an additional grant of €150,000 to the Federation of Irish Societies…

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, today announced an additional grant of €150,000 to the Federation of Irish Societies (FIS) in Britain.

The funding will benefit over 100 organisations affiliated to the FIS and the Irish Community in Britain.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the funding was "intended to enable the federation to initiate a programme to ensure that its affiliates are able to engage to maximum effect with British Government agencies, local authorities and other funders, at local and national level".

A grant of this kind has particularly significant impact.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen

Mr Cowen said: "I am very pleased to be able to make these funds available from savings in my Department's budget this year.

"By developing the capacity of the Federation of Irish Societies to secure additional funding from a range of sources, a grant of this kind has particularly significant impact, bringing with it much additional added value."

"It also represents a further step in the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants," he said.

Minister Cowen also announced the payment of the remaining balance of €150,928 to 16 organisations from the grants awarded by the Government's Díon Committee.

These organisations include Acton Homeless Concern, Cricklewood Homeless Concern, the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas, the Irish in Greenwich Project and Southwark Irish Pensioners Project.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter