Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin announced on Monday a $950,000 investment in three Irish community development projects in the U.S. and a further $130,000 in grants to Irish immigrant support organizations operating here.

The government, including Monday's investments, have granted more than $5 million for 2008 to a number of organizations in the U.S. that provide hands on welfare services to Irish emigrants living here.

Martin awarded the San Francisco Treasure Island Project, a state of the art Gaelic Athletic Association sports field, $500,000. An additional $250,000 was given to the Chicago GAA to create better playing conditions for their players, and $200,000 was awarded to the Rockland GAA in New York.

Smaller funding was also made available to various immigration support services, including $20,000 to the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers, $80,000 to the New York Irish Center in Queens and $15,000 for the Senior Help Line, recently launched at the Irish Consulate in New York.

Also, $20,000 was also awarded to the Ancient Order of Hibernians, $20,000 to the New York branch of the Irish Americans in Government and $1 million was awarded to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. This was the final balance of a $2 million allocation to the library, which was announced by former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern earlier this year.

Said Martin on the grants, "Each of these projects marks a new and exciting phase in the development of the large Irish communities in these cities. The involvement of the GAA in each of the projects is pivotal, given that the organization is a key focal point for the Irish community in the U.S., and it is to be praised for its work within those communities."

He continued, "These investments are a strong indication of the enormous value the government places on supporting our people in the U.S., and of our firm commitment to building even closer ties with the Irish American community. It is a community to which we in Ireland have on many occasions over the years turned to for advice and practical assistance, all to Ireland's great advantage. It is a community with which we are in building a partnership which will secure the long term future of the Irish community in America."

Martin said on Monday that he has experienced first hand how committed the Irish communities in the U.S. are to maintaining their own distinctive culture and tradition and their links with Ireland. "I believe that there is an onus on us to assist them in their efforts. This investment represents a win- win for Ireland and our community in the U.S.," he said.

"I also know how it is so important that these communities have a focal point where they can meet, particularly for the aging members of those communities who can so easily become isolated as their social networks splinter and sometimes disappear altogether. These are the very people who over the years would have sent substantial amounts in financial remittances back to Ireland and it is important that their contribution not be forgotten."

Martin conculded by adding that the new infrastructural investments will benefit all in the Irish American community, including the undocumented Irish. "Their status remains an issue of the highest priority for the government. I will continue to raise their plight in my contacts with U.S. legislators and with the new U.S. administration," he said.

In addition to the captial and organizatonal funding, Martin also announced a grant for the refurbishment of a 1916 Easter Rising monument in Long Island. The grants announced on Monday total $2,105,000, bringing the total for the year to $5,297,106.

Since the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs has allocated more than $10 million to organizations working with Irish communities here.