asked the Minister for Labour if he will respond to the application from the London based immigrant assistance organisation, CARA for a £27,000 once-off grant to assist with its programme.
61.
Written Answers. - Immigrant Assistance Organisations Grant Applications.
18.
asked the Minister for Labour if CARA (London) have applied to his Department for a grant to complete a dossier of bed spaces available in London for Irish emigrants.
I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 18 and 61 together.
CARA, the Irish Homeless Project, have applied to my Department for funds to help them establish a research and information project.
The application has been forwarded to DÍON — the London-based committee which advises me on the distribution of the allocation of £250,000 in my Department's Vote for the making of grants to voluntary organisations providing welfare services for Irish emigrants. DÍON does not normally submit its recommendations until the autumn of each year after it has considered all the applications for grants on the basis of its assessment of the operations of the various organisations. I have also sent a copy of the CARA application to the Minister of State at the Department of Education to see if it would qualify for assistance from lottery funds allocated to his Department to assist disadvantaged youth. I have been pressing the Minister for an early decision.
19.
asked the Minister for Labour his view on the application for financial assistance from the organisers of the Our Lady of Knock Centre in London.
Grants from my Department's Vote for the provision of State assistance to voluntary organisations concerned with the welfare of Irish emigrants are paid only on the recommendation of DÍON — the London based committee which advises me on matters relating to emigrant welfare generally.
Accordingly, the application for financial assistance in respect of the Our Lady of Knock Centre has been forwarded to the chairperson of DÍON so that the committee can consider it in the context of all the applications which have been made and the budget of £250,000.