asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of nationals abroad in each country, during the general strike in France last August, who received in response to their applications, less than £5 from our diplomatic representatives and the amounts applied for by these persons in each case; and, further, if he will obtain an indication or explanation from the official responsible as to how these small loans were considered adequate, for applicants with little money in their possession, for the purpose of getting across France, then devoid of public transport, with the extra expense of maintenance on the journey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Nationals and French Strike.
Of 73 persons financially assisted in France, the number who received less than £5 was 48; of five similarly assisted in Spain, the number was one and of 16 in other countries, the number was three. In the case of Spain, four of the applicants for help did not, in the event, find it necessary to avail themselves of the offer of financial assistance made to them.
I am not in a position to indicate the amount of assistance requested in individual cases. As the Deputy will understand, the aid called for varied according to the need of the individual in his or her particular circumstances,and it was for the Irish officials concerned to decide how much it was necessary to advance in each case.
As I informed the Deputy in reply to a question from him on this subject on the 18th inst., no complaints were at any time made, either to the Department or any of our Missions in the countries concerned, that the assistance offered in any individual case was inadequate. On the contrary, I have seen many private and public tributes to the manner in which our officials helped Irish citizens who were in need of assistance during the period of the French strike.