Government assistance to voluntary organisations in Britain catering for the welfare needs of Irish emigrants is distributed on the advice of DÍON — the Advisory Committee on Emigrant Welfare Services.
DION's current priorities are: front line information and advice services for emigrants; outreach services for unemployed youths, women and children in temporary accommodation, and travellers; special projects to assist the unemployed to find secure employment; and day care centres for the elderly.
DÍON's approach to the funding of hostels, such as Conway House, is that the cost of supporting either the capital or current costs of hostels would be prohibitive. DÍON take the view that direct access provision for the single homeless is primarily the responsibility of the UK local statutory housing authorities.
Irish Centre Hostels Limited, the parent body of Conway House, submitted an application for funding the overhead charge for the appointment of additional staff and support services to provide a job-finding facility for residents in the hostel. The application was considered by DÍON but was not successful because DÍON grants are directed at establishing a co-ordinated network of employment referral contacts among Irish agencies and the UK Employment Services rather than supporting the setting up of individual facilities.