DÍON Fund to be Increased to Over 1 Million Irish Pounds in 2000 Tánaiste Provides an Additional IR£250,000 for Irish Emigrant Welfare Services in Britain

Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today (Tuesday 30th May 2000) announced that an additional IR£250,000 will be added to the existing Díon fund of IR£765,000 for 2000. This will bring the total Díon allocation for 2000 to just over one million Irish pounds (IR£1.015m.).

The Tánaiste is keenly aware of the recent adverse effects which the Punt/Stg exchange rate has on the value of Díon grants paid in Irish pounds to welfare organisations which assist disadvantaged and socially excluded members of the Irish community in Britain. The provision of the additional IR£250,000 will go a long way towards compensating these organisations for the reduction in the value of the Díon grant in recent years.

The Díon grant allocation was increased by the Irish Government in 1999 from £613,000 to IR£750,000. This increase was designed to help about an improvement in the provision of services for older Irish emigrants and travellers in Britain - the two priority areas of need identified for 1999. The existing Dion fund of IR£765,000 will be distributed in June 2000 and the additional money will be made available later in the year.