Vol. 559 No. 6
115 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the provisions which have been made for Irish emigrants, overseas, in the 2003 budget; the proportion of this money which is specific to older emigrants currently living abroad but wishing to return to their homeland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26859/02]
116 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the provisions which have been made to respond to the recommendations made by the task force on policy regarding emigrants in the recent budget; if he will make a statement on this and the commitment of Government to honour the debt owed to our older Irish emigrants; and if he will give a time frame in which the much needed assistance to this group will be given. [26860/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
The Government has demonstrated its commitment to protecting and supporting the Irish abroad by establishing the task force on policy regarding emigrants and I intend that the report should provide a template for our actions in the future. At the same time, the extent to which the Government can provide additional resources has to be considered in the context of the difficult budgetary situation at the present time. In the light of this, it is clear that the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on policy regarding emigrants will have to be carried out on a phased basis.
The recommendations of the task force are being examined by an interdepartmental working group which is expected to report in the coming month.
The existing provision of approximately €380,000 in the Vote for Foreign Affairs, which is used to support the work of Irish emigrant agencies in the United States and Australia, has been maintained for next year. Funding for services to emigrants, particularly in Britain, is also provided by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social and Family Affairs. It is not possible to identify the proportion of this funding which is specifically devoted to older emigrants wishing to return to Ireland.
