The Government today announced €150,000 in grants to Irish community groups in Australia.
The organisations provide support and advice to Irish emigrants based in Sydney, Melbourne and Wollongong.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said the services, such as drop-in centres and outreach programmes, have a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable Irish people, particularly older citizens.
"More Irish people living in Australia, including thousands of young people who travel there each year on working holiday visas, are within easy reach of a community organisation and can draw on its support," Mr Martin said.
The organisations receiving the funding include the Australian-Irish Welfare Bureau in New South Wales, the Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland, the Australian-Irish Welfare Bureau in Wollongong and the Australian Irish Welfare Bureau in Victoria.
Mr Martin added: "At a time of worldwide economic difficulty I believe that it is more important than ever that we do not forget those who left Ireland for Australia in years past and who may now be in need of our support, particularly the elderly.
"In many cases they would over the years have sent financial remittances back home and it is only right that we now do our part to ensure that their needs are attended to."
Irish Government funding for organisations providing emigrant services to Irish people living in Australia has risen significantly in recent years.
This announcement of €150,000 in grants represents an increase of 37 per cent on the 2007 total of €110,000.
The funding comes out of the budget of The Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, which administers the Government's emigrant support programme.