asked the Minister for Labour whether he will enter into discussions with those organisations active on behalf of young Irish emigrants in Britain about the likely impact of the changes in social security put into effect recently in Britain; and the plans he has to ameliorate the most severe effects.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Emigrants in Britain.
4.
My Department have been in consultation with DÍON, the London-based committee which advises me on matters of emigrant welfare, about the impact of the revised social security system in Britain on unemployed young Irish people there. In addition, the Irish Embassy in London, on behalf of DÍON, has arranged that staff of the Department of Health and Social Services meet representatives of the various organisations involved with the welfare of Irish persons there and brief them fully on the revised system.
My approach in relation to emigration is to try to ensure that young persons considering emigration, particularly to London, are made fully aware of the serious difficulties they may encounter unless they have employment and accommodation arranged in advance. For this reason, one of the aims of the information and advice service which I introduced last year is to dissuade from emigrating, if possible, those persons who do not have the financial resources, education and skills to ensure a reasonable chance of success. In particular, those aged under 18 and those going to London without firm arrangements about accommodation and work are dissuaded. This information and advice service is now provided through FÁS — the training and employment service.
While every effort will be made to dissuade young persons from emigrating in an unprepared and thoughtless manner, the final decision on whether or not to emigrate rests with the individual.
It is important to remember that the percentage of Irish emigrants who fail to find employment and must depend on the British social security system is probably as low as 10 per cent of emigrants to Britain.
Would the Minister agree that in view of the extra demands on the resources of organisations looking after the welfare of our young emigrants in the UK, particularly in London, extra resources should be made available to help in the provision of services? I understand demands on these services have increased fivefold during the past year, while the grant has only been increased by between 50 per cent and 60 per cent.
The Deputy is correct in that demands have gone up substantially. The grant to the DÍON committee has worked particularly well. Two years ago that grant was only £68,000 but it is now £250,000. Through the apprenticeship scheme FÁS have carried out work in different centres. The Camden Town centre will open in a week's time and they have committed themselves to further work in Camden. The DÍON committee are trying to use their resources as best they can. While there were cutbacks in most areas of the Department this year, we strove to make sure that the DÍON grant remained at the same level, which was substantially higher than the level in 1986. We will continue to look at this grant in the light of the demands.
It is interesting that the grant to DÍON for providing such valuable advice and help to our emigrants is the same as provided to Dublin Zoo, namely, £250,000. Is the Minister satisfied that FÁS have been given adequate resources to provide pre-emigration counselling? Have any extra resources been made available to FÁS and have they the necessary expertise to advise these people?
During the past two years much effort has been put into providing a good welfare service. The booklet has proved a great success and is now used throughout the education system generally. The number of organisations and agencies who receive money from DÍON is substantial. In recent months I met the spokesmen of the Irish Federation of Clubs and those representing Irish emigrant services abroad and they indicated there is not a crisis. A fairly small percentage go to the advice centres and only a small percentage of those actually need help. Most are simply seeking advice and contacts. While no money is ever enough, the amount available is being used very well.
The Minister said that 10 per cent of emigrants do not get employment. Where is that figure derived from? How long does it normally take for an emigrant to find work? For some it may be a matter of days but for others it could take several months. We should be concerned about the length of time it takes many of them to find employment.
I accept that. I simply gave that figure so that the problem would not appear to be out of proportion. We must help those who do not get work, whatever percentage they represent. From continual surveys it has been found that 10 per cent is about the figure for people who do not get jobs. We are continually advising people, through the FÁS offices, to endeavour, at least, to have some contacts before they emigrate. From my visits to the centres on two occasions, it has been amazing how young people are picking up jobs at great speed. What they are having tremendous difficulty with is accommodation. Every centre I visited and every group I met hardly raised the position on unemployment, but did mention accommodation difficulties.
That is right.
That is where they are encountering great difficulties and that is where we must try to assist them. Much of the work being done by the DÍON committee concerns the renovation of hostels. I know that a number of the county associations are involved and this has nothing to do with the State at all. They are buying up old and large houses and trying to provide accommodation for young people. The Kerrymen's Association, in particular, has done a great deal of good work in that area.
A final supplementary question from Deputy Birmingham.
I broadly accept the Minister's analysis that the major problem is on the accommodation side rather than on the employment side. As I understand it, a number of the changes in relation to social welfare impinge particularly on people who are seeking accommodation, perhaps soon after arrival. In those circumstances, could the Minister arrange for an officer of the Irish Embassy in London to be assigned specifically to the task of offering support and assistance to individuals who find themselves with problems? I know that there is an officer whose function it is to relate to the organised Irish community and that there is an officer attached to the Minister's Department who relates also to the organised community and to the Department of Employment and so on. However, there should be an officer there to assist and show people the way through the system so that they do not find themselves lost in encountering bureaucracy.
I would not rule out that suggestion. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy have arranged to have discussions between DÍON, the Federation of Irish Clubs and the Department of Social Security. They are probably trying to see how best they can handle the position. It might as well be said that under the new regulations which will come into force in September I can see great difficulties for the under 18 year olds. I do not see a solution there, whatever about trying to find some way around the new laws to minimise the effects on people over 18 years of age. The people under 18 years of age, first, will be given support for only a very short period of time, having waited a number of weeks. I shall look at the Deputy's suggestion. I should like to liaise with DÍON as to what advice they come back with in trying to find a solution.