FOUR IRISH community organisations in Australia are to receive grants worth more than A$300,000 (€146,000) says Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
"The Government is committed to supporting Irish community and welfare organisations who work with Irish emigrants in Australia," said Mr Martin.
The organisations receiving the funds provide a range of services to vulnerable members of the Irish community in Australia.
The organisations help the elderly in particular, and provide drop-in centres and community outreach programmes for the expatriate Irish community.
"They have a very tangible and positive impact on the lives of those they reach and I am delighted that we are in a position again this year to provide some financial support," said Mr Martin.
The Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which oversees the emigrant support scheme, was established to strengthen the relationship between Irish citizens overseas and to assist the organisations that help Irish emigrants.
"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," said Mr Martin.
"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," said Mr Martin.
The organisations targeted as recipients of the grants are the Australian Irish Welfare Bureau, the Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland, the Australian Irish Welfare Bureau Wollongong and the Australian Irish Welfare Bureau Victoria.
The announcement of the grants totalling A$303,500 represents an increase of 37 per cent in comparison to 2007.