Jimmy Deenihan
Question:26 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Labour if he will provide extra funding, through the DíON committee, for emigrant welfare services in England.
Written Answers. - Irish Emigrants in London.
Dinny McGinley
Question:27 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the recently published report by Haringay Council in London on the condition of the Irish emigrant population there; and if, in view of the report's findings, it is intended to increase the DíON allocation in order to meet the increased demands of the assisted organisations.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Labour whether additional moneys will be made available to DíON to enable them to assist emigrants in the United Kingdom who wish to come home for Christmas.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 26, 27 and 44 together.
State aid for voluntary emigrant welfare organisations in Britain is distributed on the recommendation of DíON — the London-based advisory committee on emigrant welfare services.
DíON, on the basis of their assessment and analysis of the situation in consultation with the welfare agencies, determine their priorities, criteria and conditions for the granting of State aid.
Each year, DíON decide on their particular funding priorities for that year, having regard to the most urgent needs of Irish workers in Britain and also other sources of funding for welfare activities. All applicants are kept fully informed of any changes contemplated in grant, conditions or criteria.
The DíON priorities for 1991 were as follows: front-line advice service for emigrants; outreach services for unemployed youths, travellers, women and children in temporary accommodation; promoting emigrant access to employment and accommodation and social services for elderly emigrants.
In response to the rise in net migration to around 46,000 in 1989, the allocation in my Department's Vote for grant assistance to voluntary emigrant welfare organisations for that year was doubled from £250,000 to £500,000.
Despite a dramatic reduction in net emigration since 1989, and increasing pressure on the Exchequer, the Government have consistently maintained the same level of funding, even though net emigration has dwindled to 1,000 in the year up to April 1991.
The total 1991 Government grant of £500,000 has already been distributed to 32 welfare organisations. No further funds are available for distribution this year.
While I fully appreciate the situation of our emigrants who are in difficulty in England, an increase in the DíON grant for the next year is not foreseen, given the tight budgetary constraints and the fact that the level of emigration has declined dramatically over the last two years.