Vol. 378 No. 11
asked the Minister for Labour whether it is proposed to fund advisory facilities, either by DÍON or his Department in Ireland for potential emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the general matter of emigration and the provision of services to tackle the problem of ill-planned emigration.
34.
asked the Minister for Labour in relation to emigration and DÍON, the present composition of DÍON; its terms of reference, the date of its establishment; the number of location of meetings held since 1 January 1987; whether it produces reports; if so, whether such reports are published and available to Members of the Oireachtas; the amount of funds granted to and expended by DÍON each year since its establishment; and the recipient of each grant over £10,000 since 1 January 1985.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 34 together and to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the particulars requested in Question No. 34 on the establishment, terms of reference, composition, number and location of DÍON meetings and grants for emigrant services.
The Government's approach to emigration is twofold. Firstly we are endeavouring to provide, on a national basis, a proper pre-departure advisory service for persons contemplating seeking work abroad. This service is aimed at helping such persons make an informed decision and to counter and discourage precipitate and ill-planned emigration. Secondly, we are providing financial assistance to voluntary organisations which offer reception facilities for newly-arrived emigrants, particularly those who experience difficulty in coping with their new surroundings.
At home, the National Manpower Service, which is now part of FÁS, has developed an extensive information and counselling service for intending emigrants. The service includes a very useful pre-departure information pack entitled "Working Abroad" giving information on conditions in other countries. FÁS are best equipped, through their national network of offices, to advise on job opportunities, training and employment schemes available at home as well as job opportunities arising in the European Community through their contacts with the employment services of other member states. I would strongly encourage intending emigrants to avail of this service.
Despite the best efforts of FÁS at discouraging from travelling those who are obviously inadequately prepared for conditions abroad, some people will still exercise their right to emigrate and a proportion will get into difficulties.
The bulk of State grants for welfare services for emigrants, amounting to £250,000 in 1987, are paid on the recommendation of DÍON, and are mainly directed towards improving and developing reception services in Britain for newly arrived emigrants. DÍON is an independent voluntary committee based in Britain which makes recommendations on the allocation of financial assistance towards the employment of professional workers dealing with the welfare problem of Irish workers.
DÍON reports to me annually in conjunction with its recommendations on the payment of grants. The reports contain information on developments in emigration generally and DÍON's comments and assessments of the performance of individual grant-aided welfare centres. Some of the material in the reports would be of a confidential nature and would not be appropriate for publication. I am considering how to publicise better general developments in relation to emigration.
I am convinced that if more intending emigrants sought information and advice and were better prepared before leaving Ireland, there would be fewer problem cases turning up in Britain and elsewhere. There are still too many people leaving the country who do not make contact with any sources of advice beforehand. I want this situation to improve significantly under the more integrated FÁS structure which is being developed nationwide.
Given this background, I believe that Government aid to voluntary bodies should be directed mainly towards organisations in Britain which are at the receiving end of crisis situations and which have to provide emergency services. At home our efforts should still be directed towards developing the information and counselling services provided by FÁS and ensuring that all intending emigrants use these services.
I recognise the good work being done by various voluntary organisations throughout the country in trying to help intending emigrants. I hope that these organisations can work in close co-operation with FÁS in tackling the problem of lack of preparation and planning at its source.
STATEMENT
DÍON — COMMITTEE ON WELFARE SERVICES ABROAD
1. DÍON was set up in June 1984, replacing the larger Irish-based Committee on Welfare Services Abroad (COWSA), which operated from 1979, which in turn replaced the Advisory Committee on Emigrant Services, established in 1969.
2. DÍON reports to the Minister for Labour. Its terms of reference are as follows:
—to advise and report on emigrant welfare services;
—to make recommendations on the provision of financial assistance towards the employment of professional workers dealing with the welfare problems of Irish workers;
—to consider and make recommendations on specific aspects of emigrant welfare at the request of the Minister.
3. DÍON is chaired by Mr. Seán Healy, Labour Attaché at the Irish Embassy in London. The other members are:
Mr. Seamus McGarry (Chairman Federation of Irish Societies), Mr. Gearóid Ó Meachair (Member of the Federation of Irish Societies), Mr. Seán Redmond (General Secretary, Irish Municipal Employees Trade Union), Mr. Breifne O'Reilly (Third Secretary, Irish Embassy, London).
4. Since 1 January 1987 the DÍON Committee have met 13 times, 11 times in London, once in Dublin and once in Liverpool.
5. Details of the grants issued since 1984 are attached, as Appendix I.
APPENDIX I
GRANTS FOR EMIGRANT ADVISORY SERVICES 1984-1987
|
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Irish Centre, Camden |
19,250 |
33,000 |
53,000 |
77,000 |
|
Irish Welfare Bureau, Hammersmith |
10,000 |
14,000 |
20,000 |
37,000 |
|
Irish Community Care Centre Haringey, Stroud Green |
4,750 |
9,000 |
16,000 |
30,000 |
|
Benburb Base |
3,500 |
4,500 |
4,500 |
— |
|
South London Irish Association |
3,000 |
4,500 |
5,000 |
7,500 |
|
Brent Irish Advisory Service |
2,000 |
3,000 |
5,000 |
8,000 |
|
Irish Welfare Centre, Birmingham |
6,500 |
8,000 |
8,500 |
8,500 |
|
Irish Centre, Liverpool |
5,500 |
7,500 |
8,500 |
13,000 |
|
St. Joseph's House, Oxford |
5,500 |
7,000 |
7,000 |
— |
|
Irish Welfare Centre, Manchester |
— |
4,000 |
6,000 |
10,000 |
|
*Emigrant Advice Bureau |
6,500 |
7,500 |
7,500 |
10,000 |
|
*Irish Emigrant Chaplains Association |
1,000 |
2,000 |
— |
— |
|
Action Group for Irish Youth |
— |
— |
10,000 |
10,000 |
|
Soho Project Charing Cross |
— |
— |
2,000 |
3,500 |
|
Piccadilly Advice Centre |
— |
— |
2,000 |
3,500 |
|
Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas |
— |
— |
— |
9,000 |
|
Irish Centre, Haringey, Pretoria Road, Tottenham |
— |
— |
— |
13,000 |
|
Irish Centre, Luton |
— |
— |
— |
10,000 |
|
Total |
68,000 |
104,000 |
155,000 |
250,000 |
*Based in Ireland.
