Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 1

Written Answers. - Association of Health Boards.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

100 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the call made at the Conference of the Association of Health Boards held in Bundoran on 27 April 2001 for additional funding and assistance for Irish immigrants in Britain; if she intends to provide any such additional funding or assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12933/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I am aware of the call made at the Conference of the Association of Health Boards in Bundoran on 27 April 2001 for additional funding and assistance for Irish immigrants in Britain, and in particular, funding for voluntary organisations who assist Irish people who have health problems, including depression and mental health problems; and funding of repatriation programmes to assist elderly Irish people in Britain to return to live in Ireland.

Funding for Irish emigrant welfare in Britain is provided through the Díon fund. Since 1984 the Irish Government has provided annual financial assistance under this fund to support Irish voluntary organisations in Britain who provide advisory and welfare services for Irish emigrants. Last year grants totalling £1,015,000 were paid to forty welfare organisations working with vulnerable and at risk' members of the Irish community in Britain. The Government has provided an additional £1 million for Díon this year to assist Irish people in Britain who are most in need, including those with health problems. This brings the total Díon allocation for 2001 to over £2 million – £2,051,000 – representing a new record level of support for this purpose. This year's increase is the largest ever increase in the Díon fund and brings the total grant allocation since its inception in 1984 to almost £10 million.

The Díon fund is provided from the Vote of my Department and it is administered by the Embassy of Ireland in London through the Díon Committee. In the main, Díon grants support the employment of professional workers in Irish voluntary organisations in Britain who provide advice and assistance over a range of areas, including housing and health and welfare entitlements, to both the newly arrived and to those who have been in Britain for some time, and in areas with significant Irish populations. Many of the welfare organisations funded by Díon assist elderly Irish people who are socially excluded and in poor health and circumstances.

This year, applications have been received from fifty seven voluntary organisations, and they amount to over two and a half million Irish pounds. I will shortly be receiving the committee's grant recommendations for 2001. As usual, the grants will be paid to successful applicants in June.

Since 1996 counselling-psychotherapy services were not eligible for Díon funding – in fact, such services were specifically excluded in the Díon Strategic Plan, 1998-2000. In drawing up its new strategic plan for 2001-2003, however, the Díon Committee have recommended that counselling costs be made eligible for Díon funding and that applications for funding for such services be considered on their merits. One such application has been received this year and has been considered for funding. A decision will be available shortly.

The Bundoran Health Conference pointed to the need for Government support for repatriation of elderly Irish people who have been resident in Britain for many years. One such project was funded last year. The Safe Start Foundation which offers accommodation, employment opportunities and training to young Irish people in North West London, received a Díon grant of £16,000 for their "Safe Home" repatriation project to provide advice to elderly Irish people who wish to return to live in Ireland. This project has links with the Safe Home repatriation project in Mulranny, County Mayo. A number of Díon grant applications for repatriation projects were received this year, including one from the Mulranny project. Funding for there projects has been considered along with all the other applications received and a decision will be available shortly.

In the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness the Government is committed to establish a task force under the chairmanship of the Department of Foreign Affairs and comprising of social partner and other relevant interests, to develop a coherent long-term approach to Irish emigrants and their needs, building on the initiatives already being undertaken by that Department and by my Department, ie, the Díon fund. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in the process of selecting members of the task force and setting terms of reference. Proposals will be put to the Government in the coming weeks. The issue of funding for services to Irish emigrants in Britain and elsewhere will be examined in this context.

Question No. 101 answered with Question No. 63.