The Tanaiste yesterday announced grants totalling £602,000 for organisations working with the Irish community in Britain.
The allocation for the Government's 1998 Dion fund is £613,000.
The £602,000 will fund 33 projects and the remainder, £11,000, will be awarded later in the year.
The Minister allocates the funding every year on the basis of recommendations from the Dion (shelter) Committee.
Ms Harney announced the allocation in London at a reception at the Irish Embassy hosted by the Ambassador, Mr Ted Barrington.
She also introduced a Dion Strategic Plan for 1998-2000.
The plan details several policy changes to reflect current practice and proposed strategy for the future.
These changes include making a small increase in the grant limit for organisations to £45,000 from £40,000, with provision for annual review.
Ms Harney said four of the projects would receive new multi-annual funding totalling £81,000 per annum on the committee's recommendation.
These are in the case of Action Group for Irish Youth; Irish Community Advisory & Resource Group, Coventry; Solas Anois (a domestic violence refuge in London); and the Irish Welfare and Information Centre, Birmingham.
New funding of £4,500 will also be provided next October for the newly established London Irish Elders Forum, which the Tanaiste said was a particularly welcome project that would give the Irish elderly in London a new voice to draw attention to their concerns and needs.
Since the Dion fund was established in 1984 grants provided by the Government to organisations working with the Irish community in Britain amount to more than £6 million. The committee comprises seven members appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Earlier yesterday, the Tanaiste opened a housing scheme in Hackney for Irish people who have experienced homelessness and are in need of supported housing. The scheme has been developed by Cara Irish Housing Association.
Ms Harney said: "The need for secure, affordable accommodation is an essential starting point for any emigrant trying to find their way in a new city in often difficult circumstances. The Irish housing associations are all addressing this most pressing need for many of our emigrants."