Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 3

Written Answers. - DÍON Grant.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

68 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to increase the DÍON grant to enable the Federation of Irish Societies and other organisations to improve support services for Irish people living in England; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9865/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

DÍON is the Government's advisory committee on issues of concern to the Irish community in Britain. The DÍON fund assists Irish welfare organisations working with disadvantaged members of the Irish community in Britain. It provides grants mainly to Irish voluntary organisations for welfare, community care and development work; it contributes to the salary costs of second tier organisations such as the Federation of Irish Societies (FIS) and the Action Group for Irish Youth (AGIY); and it may fund research into issues of concern to the Irish community. Thirty eight welfare organisations benefited in 1999.

DÍON has paid out a total of almost IR£7 million to Irish emigrant welfare groups since its inception in 1984. The Government is keenly aware of difficulties faced by members of the Irish community in Britain through the Díon Committee and various reports which have been published, such as the Commission on Racial Equality's report on Discrimination and the Irish Community in Britain, and those produced under the auspices of the Federation of Irish Societies concerning health and the elderly. There was a significant increase – £137,000 – in the DÍON budget in 1999 – from £613,000 to £750,000 specifically to improve services for older people and travellers in Britain. I am pleased to say that in 1999, six new Irish elders projects and four new Irish travellers projects were assisted by DÍON; and that grants totalling £152,000 went to elders projects and £54,400 went to Irish travellers projects. In addition, a commitment was given to maintain the overall increase in the DÍON grant in 2000 and 2001. The increase has been maintained as promised and £765,000 has been provided for DÍON in 2000, a 2% increase on 1999. This acknowledges the Government's appreciation of the very valuable and culturally sensitive services which Irish community organisations provide to the less well off and disadvantaged members of the Irish community in Britain.

I know that representations have been made to the embassy in London by the Federation of Irish Societies and several organisations who receive grants from DÍON about the adverse effects which the strength of sterling is having on the value of the DÍON grants paid to Irish welfare organisations which assist vulnerable people in the Irish community in Britain. This issue was raised at meetings which I had with Irish community representatives in 1999 and more recently by the Federation of Irish Societies' delegation with whom I had a meeting in Dublin last week.

I am in favour of adequately resourcing organisations working with the Irish community in Britain. While the DÍON grant allocation for 2000 stands at £765,000, I fully appreciate that the growing strength of Sterlingvis-à-vis the Irish pound in recent times has reduced the impact of the grant to the emigrant welfare organisations, who apply in sterling but get paid in Irish pounds. My Department is examining this issue, and the federation's request for an increase in the DÍON fund, as a matter of urgency to see what steps may be available to me to address the currency exposure issue as well as reviewing the level of the DÍON grant in this and subsequent years.