February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
That work will be boosted in the next 12 months by $300,000 in funding announced by Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs, Brian Cowen, in New York last week.
At the same time, the Irish government’s own “Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants” has concluded that current funding for immigrant advice agencies falls far short of what is needed. Instead of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the task force wants to see millions spent by the Irish government in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In the case of the U.S., the task force has recommended that the $300,000 being distributed this year be increased to euro 2 million next year and reach euro 6 million by 2005.
Given the rough parity of the euro and dollar, the extent of the desired increase in funding is immediately clear.
Cowen revealed details of the latest round of funding after meeting with the Irish Immigration Working Committee at the Irish Consulate offices in Manhattan.
The funding, covering 2002-03 and from the Department of Foreign Affairs budget, is being distributed among 13 immigrant centers and advice groups from New York to San Francisco.
Three of the 13 recipients are in New York, two are in Boston and two are in Philadelphia.
The recipients of the two largest grant sums, Project Irish Outreach and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, are both in New York. Each will receive $55,000.
The Aisling Irish Center in the Bronx will receive $14,000.
In Boston, the Irish Pastoral Center is to get $48,000, while the Irish Immigration Center will receive an identical amount.
The Irish Immigration and Pastoral Center in Philadelphia has been awarded $20,000, while the Philadelphia Immigration Resource Center will receive $3,000.
The Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco will receive $23,500 and Chicago Irish Immigration Support will be awarded $12,000.
Other recipients are: Irish Outreach, San Diego, $2,000; Seattle Irish Immigration Support, $2,000; F