asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement as to what is planned by way of Government assistance for Irish emigrants in Britain; if grants for Irish centres will be provided; if the Government will make itself responsible for providing or assisting welfare centres for Irish emigrants throughout Britain; if a detailed survey has been carried out as to the needs of Irish emigrants; and, if so, what action will now be taken as a result of such survey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Irish Emigrants.
237.
I am concerned about guidance and advice for intending emigrants and for the provision of information and other facilities for emigrants who may wish to return home for work. The Deputy will have seen the recent announcement that I have set up a representative committee to advise me on these matters.
The question of financial assistance for Irish centres in Britain is not a matter for me.
Arising out of that reply, since the Minister has set up this commission to deal with the problems of emigrants, does he not consider that the provision of social amenities, clubrooms et cetera, is of the greatest possible importance having regard to the wonderful services rendered to Irish emigrants by the Irish Centre in London and the centres elsewhere throughout Britain? The centres in areas where there is not a great concentration of Irish emigrants are very short of money. In view of the fact that there are no other means of obtaining money, does the Minister not consider it right and proper that a sum should be set aside to enable suitable grants to be paid to these centres either through the Irish Ambassador in Britain or through some other channel?
The question of assistance to emigrants when they are outside the country would be a matter for the Minister for External Affairs. However, a beginning has been made and I expect that the committee I have set up will be able to identify most of the problems.
What about the terms of reference? Will it be possible for one to make submission to the committee?
I do not think that the terms of reference would permit them to assist agencies outside the country, however much I agree with the Deputy that those agencies are doing very good work abroad.
At the moment the Irish Centre in London have plenty of land on which to build but they are short of cash. They will have to sell out. They have a valuable property but they cannot get any money to build. Would the Minister not consider doing something about it?
They have valuable property. If our workers are treated properly they may come back here. But if they go over there without anyone to meet them it is possible that they will go off and never come back at all. Would the Minister consider making immediate representations to some responsible organisation? The Minister has personal experience from the West of Ireland of thousands of our people emigrating. In view of the fact that no Government down through the years has been serious about this problem, could a vote on account be made available to show our goodwill towards our people who have left for work?
I do not wish to make a long statement or to anticipate the working of the committee I have set up. The committee will examine all these problems and I anxiously await the outcome of their deliberations. On the question of providing aid on the other side of the Channel, I feel this is dangerous enough field to get into because the demands could be unlimited. I have discussed this with some responsible people conducting agencies over there and most of them admit that finance was not a problem.
There is a financial problem in London.
Finance is a big problem there.