Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
62 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations of the task force on policy regarding emigrants; the latest work of the dedicated unit within his Department to deal with issues concerning Irish persons overseas; the meetings which members of this unit have had with Irish emigrant communities overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30092/04]
View answerThe task force on policy regarding emigrants contained many detailed recommendations whose implementation can best be brought about on a phased basis. Considerable progress has already been made with action under way on over two thirds of its recommendations. Overall policy is now, as recommended by the task force, the responsibility of my Department and a dedicated unit has been established to drive forward progress in this important area.
I am delighted that the funds available to emigrant services will once again rise substantially next year. The Estimates for Public Services include an overall allocation of €8.267 million to support our emigrants in 2005. This is a doubling of the 2004 Estimates figure. Even allowing for the additional funding which was made available to emigrant services in late 2004, this figure of €8.267 million represents an overall increase of 63%.
This very substantial increase in funding reflects the strength of the Government's commitment to our emigrant communities. Funding is directed to the voluntary organisations that provide critical services to our vulnerable emigrants. These organisations are active in the areas identified by the task force including pre-departure services and front-line advice and counselling to our community living abroad. A particular priority continues to be to reach the most vulnerable Irish abroad such as our older community, Irish travellers and the undocumented Irish people in the United States.
An important policy initiative to facilitate the Government's efforts and relationship with Irish communities abroad has been the creation of the Irish abroad unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am delighted to note that its establishment has been warmly welcomed by our partners in the voluntary sector.
As the task force makes clear, the needs of our emigrant community can best be met by a collective effort that involves statutory and non-statutory agencies. Officials of the dedicated unit are active on the ground in developing contacts with the full range of partners involved in this collective effort. They have to date had meetings with Departments and agencies involved in the provision of services to emigrants in Ireland. Members of the unit have also had meetings with organisations which provide front line services to Irish people in the USA, London, Birmingham and Coventry. Further meetings are being planned in London and Lancashire before Christmas. The development and maintenance of such contacts by the dedicated unit provide the voluntary organisations engaged in the provision of emigrant services with an effective channel of communication to the Government.
The activity of the dedicated unit is already injecting a fresh momentum to drive forward progress on all of the critically important areas identified by the task force. In this way we can ensure that the needs of our emigrants continue to be accorded the highest priority and that our response to their needs is effective and is developed further in the period ahead.
