Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Emigrant Support Services.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

175 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding provided by her Department or through agencies funded by her Department to an organisation (details supplied) with an address at Mulranny, County Mayo; the purpose of such funding; the amounts allocated in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27164/02]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

176 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to an organisation (details supplied) with an address at Mulranny, County Mayo; if her Department has provided funding to this organisation, either directly or through a FÁS community employment scheme; the amount of such funding in each year since 1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27167/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.

Funding for Irish emigrant welfare in Britain is provided through the Díon fund annually from my Department's Vote and administered by the Embassy in London through the Díon Committee. Safe Home was set up as a pilot project in January 2000, without FÁS funding, and made use of the community employment clerical facilities of Mulranny Day Centre Housing Company limited for a period of 15 months.

In 2001 and 2002, a Díon grant was paid to the Safe Home Programme in St. Brendan's Village, Mulranny, County Mayo and since 2001 the Safe Home has been a completely separate entity to the Mulranny Day Centre Housing Company Limited. Safe Home recruited one of the community employment participants as a full-time employee to carry out its clerical work. This organisation acts as the national advice and contact point in Ireland for elderly Irish people in Britain who wish to return to live in Ireland. The amounts paid are as follows: IR£50,000, €63,486.90, in 2001 towards the salary costs of a development officer and an administrator based in Mulranny to provide advice and assistance to elderly Irish people in Britain to return to live in Ireland permanently; €82,500 in 2002 comprising €55,000 as continuing funding towards the salary costs of the development officer and administrator and €27,500 as new funding for a development officer based in Ireland to work with Irish advice and welfare centres in the UK who are willing to provide induction courses for elderly Irish people to ensure that they are fully aware of all the implications of resettlement in Ireland, to co-ordinate delivery of the induction and to develop links with new Irish organisations in Britain.

The new development officer post has been in place since August 2002 and is based in Ireland, close to returned emigrants. This officer acts as a support to returned emigrants, forges links with other groups working on behalf of Irish emigrants both at home and abroad and plans to meet with a number of Irish groups in various locations in Britain early this year. The Safe Home team are in contact with many Irish welfare organisations and Irish centres in Britain whose clients include elderly Irish people. Information open days on transfer of pensions and benefits and on housing and health services will take place in Birmingham and Coventry in January 2003 aimed at potential returnees who are over 60 years of age, as well as induction courses for existing applicants.

Safe Home has received 4,670 enquiries up to 16 January 2003 and a total of 578 applications covering 834 people. In the first year of Díon funding, Safe Home assisted 102 elderly Irish people to return home to various parts of Ireland and, to date, I understand that 125 elderly Irish people have returned and been housed through its efforts. In its sheltered housing complex at St Brendan's village, Safe Home provides housing and support for a number of these elderly people and it has a large list of applicants. It is also making efforts to secure social and affordable rented housing for returning emigrants from county councils and voluntary housing associations.