asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the financial allocation which is being made to Irish organisations in Britain who look after the welfare of Irish emigrants.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Irish Organisations in Britain .
15.
: My Department refund to Irish welfare organisations in Britain the moneys they expend on the repatriation of Irish people from Britain to Ireland. This repatriation scheme which has been in existence for some time aids minors and other destitute Irish people who are not in a position to help themselves and who need repatriation.
The Government also assist Irish people in Britain in other ways. More than £2,000,000 is paid annually by the Department of Social Welfare to Irish beneficiaries in Britain and the Department of Labour operate a scheme under which payments of allowances and expenses are made to facilitate the return of Irish workers and their families to take up employment in Ireland.
: Is the Minister satisfied that the needs of Irish people in Britain are being recognised by the Government?
: The Deputy will appreciate that I have inherited some problems, amongst them the decision by our immediate predecessors not to extend the range of financial assistance to other emigrant activities.
: Would the Minister not agree that he and other members of the Cabinet made promises to the organisations catering for the needs of Irish emigrants, when they were in Opposition? Have these pledges been fulfilled?
: I can speak only for myself in this context and I cannot remember making any pledges of that nature. I am saying that the Government are considering taking steps of a nature which the previous Government declined to take.
: The Government have done nothing but consider the matter for the past 12 months.