Government grants €1.4m to Irish groups in US

The Government today announced funding of more than $2 million (€1.44 million) for Irish groups in the United States.

The Government today announced funding of more than $2 million (€1.44 million) for Irish groups in the United States.

Schemes benefiting include three major Irish community development projects in San Francisco, Chicago and New York, which will receive $950,000. 

A further $135,000 is also being given to a number of organisations providing welfare services to Irish emigrants in the US.

The announcement brings the total emigrant support funding in the US for 2008 to more than $5 million.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the investment demonstrated the Government's commitment to building closer ties with the Irish American community.

"I know from my own visits to the United States how committed our communities are to maintaining their own distinctive culture and tradition and their links with Ireland," Mr Martin said.

"I believe that there is an onus on us to assist them in their efforts. This investment represents a win-win for Ireland and our community in the US."

Mr Martin also pledged a grant for the refurbishment of a 1916 Easter Rising monument in Long Island.

In addition, he announced the payment of the $1 million balance of an allocation of $2 million to the Kennedy Library in Boston, announced by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern earlier this year.

Since the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs has allocated more than $10 million  to Irish organisations in the US.