IRELAND: AIB has pledged €3 million to the Irish aid agency GOAL for its tsunami disaster recovery effort.
Rather than contributing to the general pool of funds, the bank has asked GOAL to identify a specific long-term economic recovery project, which would be sustained to the finish by AIB and managed by GOAL.
Staff at AIB are undertaking a number of fundraising projects and the bank has pledged to add €3 to every €1 collected by staff .
The Irish Farmers' Association is to donate €100,000 to the relief effort - the donation was announced yesterday at its 50th birthday celebrations in Dublin. The money will go to Concern, Christian Aid and GOAL, said its President, Mr John Dillon.
Irish charities have been promised almost €17 million so far with donations to the Irish Red Cross alone amounting to over €6.3 million.
Concern has received around €2.8 million, excluding some credit card payments, with GOAL bringing in over €2 million and Trócaire receiving €2.1 million.
The colleagues of Eilís Finnegan, the first confirmed Irish victim, have volunteered to work in Red Cross offices.
The workers, with pay from their employers United Airlines, will spend the weekend processing donations.
The businessman Mr J.P. McManus has donated €500,000, fruit distributor Fyffes gave €500,000 and Tesco has raised €100,000. Yesterday FM104 said its appeal for GOAL had attracted a €100,000 donation from Mr Ben Dunne.
A fundraising weekend has also been planned for this week. GOAL Sport Aid Weekend will hold collections at grounds around the country with the support of the GAA and the IRFU.
The Irish Taxation Institute reminded donors yesterday that payments to certain charities can attract tax relief.
"For the relief to apply the donation must be made to a recognised charity and the amount given to that one charity in the year must be at least €250, although this can be made in instalments throughout the year," the institute said.