Good news, the Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan has revealed that almost $600,000 will be granted to organisations across Australia this year to provide welfare services and support to Irish emigrants
Groups that will benefit from the ESP this year include Irish welfare groups in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Speaking from Perth, where he officially opened the Honorary Consulate Minister Deenihan said:
The funding will support frontline welfare organisations to help members of the Irish community, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable. Funding has also been made available to organisations that help foster Irish identity within our community.
Of course, assistance to the most vulnerable would not be possible without the ongoing, dedicated work of the Irish Australian support bureaus and other organisations here in Australia. I thank you for your important work in supporting our community here.
I also acknowledge the work being done by organisations to promote Irish culture and preserve our heritage in Australia.
Australia is often dubbed ‘the most Irish country in the world outside of Ireland’ and the stories of successive Irish emigrants and their descendants form an important part of Australian history.
In the 2011 census, nearly 2.1 million Australians indicated they had Irish ancestry. I am delighted that these grants will help to increase interest and understanding of that heritage and enhance our connections with the global Irish community.”
The list of organisations to receive support from the ESP for 2014 are:
Ballarat and District Irish Club – $7,500
Canberra Irish Club – $11,000
Irish Australian Association South Australia – $10,000
Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce Inc. – $25,000
Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland $85,000
Irish Australian Support & Resource Bureau, Melbourne – $142,000
Irish Australian Welfare Bureau & Resource Centre NSW – $172,570
Irish Club Western Australian – $32,000
Irish Families in Perth – $2,510
Irish Language Association of Australia – $2,000
Irish Language School Sydney – Scoil na Gaeilge Sydney – $2,000
Melbourne Irish Festival – $2,000
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Association Inc. Brisbane – $7,500
St Patricks Day WA Inc – $10,000
Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Organisation Inc. – $65,000
The Claddagh Association, Perth – $14,500
Source: Irish Echo
The funding represents as slight increase on last year but the proportion of the total Emigrant Support Programme (ESP).