Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 9

Written Answers. - Advice Service for Returning Emigrants.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

172 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider the establishment and funding of a national advice service for returning emigrants to Ireland in view of the increasing number of Irish people currently returning from abroad.

Minister for Labour (Mr. Cowen)

There are a number of reasons which influence people's decisions to return to Ireland and the services of the State agencies are equally available to everyone in the State, including returned emigrants.

As the Minister for Labour, my main concern relates to the return of job seekers. I am not aware that returning emigrants are encountering special problems which would justify the setting up of national advisory service, as suggested.

FÁS provides a comprehensive service to all job seekers, covering not only employment but training and employment schemes.

Among recent initiatives involving FÁS are the Transfrontier Committee which also has representatives from the UK Employment Service, the UK Department of Employment Training Directorate, and from the voluntary sector in both countries. The Committee is concerned with:

—the provision of appropriate support for workers seeking to move between Ireland and the United Kingdom, and

—minimising the difficulties of entry to employment and training markets by arriving or returning emigrants.

As part of the SEDOC process, FÁS assists Irish emigrants abroad who are interested in finding employment here.

I have recently announced a proposal to locate FÁS staff in offices of the State Employment Services in the Netherlands and Germany. Not only will these FÁS staff provide a service for Irish workers going there but they will also act as a useful contact for emigrants wishing to return home.

An important role is also played by the Department of Social Welfare in helping returning emigrants, in that it arranges for the transfer of their welfare entitlements.

Voluntary emigrant welfare organisations in Britain are also involved in the provision of many information and advisory services, including advising returning emigrants. These voluntary services are grant-aided by my Department on the recommendation of DÍON — the London based Advisory Committee on Emigrant Welfare.