Organizations in the United States that provide advice and assistance to Irish immigrants may be eligible for a portion of more than $200,000 in grants this year from the Irish government.
Applications for the grants, which are allocated every year, should be submitted to any of the Irish consulates in Boston, Chicago, New York or San Francisco. Consulate officials will offer advice and guidance to any group wishing to make an application and will liaise with local community immigration groups in the disbursement of the funding.
The Irish embassy in Washington, D.C., is responsible for the overall coordination of the scheme.
Foreign Affairs Minister David Andrews, who will decide on the final approval of the grants, has made provision for grants of up to _153,700 during the current year as financial support for the work of groups in the U.S. dealing with the welfare of Irish immigrants.
This will bring total Irish government funding for this purpose during the last eight years to more than $2 million.
The priority areas for distribution of available funding will be the provision of information, advice and outreach services for immigrants.
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Applications should be submitted to the appropriate consulate by June 12. For information, call the embassy in Washington, D.C., at (202) 462-3939/3940 or any of the following consulates: New York, (212) 319-2555; Boston, (617) 267-9330; Chicago, (312) 337-1868; San Francisco, (415) 392-4214.
Payment of grants will be made before the end of September 1998.