asked the Minister for Labour if any approach has been made to the European Commission for financial assistance to assist the settlement of Irish emigrants in the United Kingdom.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assistance for Emigrants in UK.
14.
The Government have not made an approach to the European Commission for financial support to assist in the settlement of Irish emigrants in Britain. The European Social Fund can assist the integration of migrants into the host country with vocational training or, if necessary, language training. Normally such a request for funding is made by the host country.
The Deputy will be aware that this year the funds allocated for the assistance of voluntary organisations providing front-line services for Irish emigrants to Britain have been increased by £250,000 to £500,000. This major increase in funding will greatly facilitate DÍON — the London based committee which advises me on matters of emigrant welfare, in exploring new ways of helping Irish emigrants in Britain.
In addition, FÁS, the Training and Employment Authority, who have responsibility for providing pre-departure information and advice services for intending emigrants, are in the process of upgrading those services so that people seeking employment abroad will receive every assistance in considering all the factors affecting their decision. It is also FÁS practise to dissuade from emigration those who are not suitably prepared and who do not have the qualifications, skills and resources to ensure a reasonable chance of success. In such cases, advice and information is offered on employment and training opportunities at home.
I should like to emphasise that the vast majority of emigrants to Britain are well able to cope and manage to find employment and accommodation without recourse to voluntary organisations. The real solution to the problem of enforced emigration is, of course, to create more employment here in Ireland. The indications are that the Government's policies to boost the economy are now beginning to bear fruit.
No evidence.
No evidence whatsoever.
Would the Minister not agree that when he read his brief he was surprised himself to learn that the Government had not made an application for grant aid and that there is the possibility that there is grant aid available? Would he not agree in view of the prohibitive cost of accommodation, particularly in London where it averages £90 per week, in view of the new restrictions by the DHSS which means that any Irish emigrant going there cannot qualify for social welfare payments for a minimum of two months, and in view of the considerable squalor and subhuman conditions in which many Irish are living in Kilburn, in Camden Town and other parts of London, it is high time we made a direct application for such aid?
I understand that under the present European Social Fund rules assistance for the settlement of migrants may be claimed only by the host state. Such assistance is confined to vocational training or, if necessary, language training. I also believe that an organisation in Britain providing training for Irish migrants has made an approach for funding to the European Commission through their Department of Employment.
Due to the fact that most EC aid that is disbursed comes, by and large, on a pound-for-pound basis, and in view of the fact that the Minister has this year made available an additional £0.25 million for DÍON thus bringing it to an inadequate £0.5 million, there could be considerable amenability on the part of the EC at least to provide an additional £0.5 million to enable the plight of the Irish emigrant to be considerably ameliorated?
The arrangement is that it must be the host country that applies for aid and it is confined to vocational training and language training. The migrant training company have been in touch with the Labour Attaché in London and we will certainly follow that through to see what can be gained.
Has the Minister any proposals to raise within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, with his colleague in Britain, the Secretary of State for Employment, the possibility of some joint approaches to the European Commission in regard to the problems created by ill-prepared migrant workers coming to Britain from northern and southern Ireland?
I have had discussions recently with the Secretary of State for Employment and his Minister of State on this whole area. We have not got to the stage of making any joint approaches to the European Social Fund. If there are resources I will certainly explore them to the full.