Dion Fund.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004

Wednesday, 19 May 2004

Questions (109)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

103 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that he accepts that the support centre for elderly Irish emigrants in Coventry, England, known as Teach na hÉireann, provides an excellent service and improves the quality of life of those it tends to, and in view of the fact that the funding for this new service allows it to open on only two days per week, he will now provide the necessary funding to allow the service to allow it to open on five days per week thereby more than doubling the service it provides; if, in this regard, he can indicate if the Dion committee at its recent meeting allocated extra funding to the centre as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14549/04]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Dion committee has received and considered the application from Rehab Irish elders' resource centre, Teach na hÉireann, Coventry for continuation funding for the two existing posts of project manager and a part-time support worker, and new funding for two new part-time posts of administrator and outreach worker.

The grant recommendations, including the Rehab Coventry grant, are due to be submitted to me in early to mid-June and will be considered sympathetically given the important and admirable work been done by the centre. Payments will be made towards the end of June 2004. The grants will be formally announced at a Dion reception in the Irish Embassy in London, probably in July, though I expect the amount involved will be made public before that time.