asked the Minister for Labour the number of foreign skilled workers interviewed in 1979 to fill vacancies in Irish industry, the number who accepted positions, the number who were paid cash incentives, such as disturbance allowances or removal expenses from the United Kingdom to settle in Ireland and the average amount of such payments.
Written Answers. - Foreign Skilled Workers.
486.
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the recruitment campaign which was conducted in the United Kingdom in June of this year to attract skilled workers who are in short supply in this country. As a result of that campaign 223 persons of whom 68 are not Irish nationals, have so far been interviewed by employers and 66, including 23 non-nationals, have been placed in employment.
In connection with the campaign it has been decided that the grants payable under the resettlement allowances scheme to workers coming from abroad should be increased substantially. The grants payable were all increased with effect from 21 May 1979.
Up to the present, interview grants of up to £70 have been paid to 30 of the 223 workers who have been interviewed and applications from others are currently receiving attention or are awaited.
In the period from the beginning of 1979 to 21 May 1979, when a lower rate of grants applied, 91 persons coming from abroad received interview grants averaging £40 each and 18 persons, who came to take up jobs here and were fully resettled, got grants averaging £197.