Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jul 1979

Vol. 315 No. 16

Written Answers. - Irish Emigrants Aid.

30.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the financial assistance, if any, given by the Government to Irish emigrants in the United Kingdom and the manner in which it is disbursed.

As I mentioned in the Dáil on 14 June last year in reply to a similar question Irish public funds are disbursed in various ways to and for the benefit of Irish persons resident in Britain. More than £2,000,000 is paid annually by the Department of Social Welfare to Irish beneficiaries in Britain and the Department of Labour operates a scheme under which payments of allowances and expenses are made to facilitate the return of Irish workers and their families to take up employment in Ireland. In addition my Department provides funds for the repatriation from Britain of certain categories of Irish citizens there, such as minors and other persons who are totally destitute and in respect of whom repatriation in their particular circumstances is in their best interests. Recently, in addition, the Government decided to provide financial assistance to help with the employment of social workers in areas in Britain with large Irish populations. The latter assistance will be administered by the Advisory Committee on Emigrants' Services which it is expected will shortly be suitably reconstituted by the Minister for Labour.

Top
Share