Vol. 396 No. 9
10 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any estimates of the number of emigrants who went to the United Kingdom last year; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some of these people are living in very unsatisfactory conditions; if he has taken the matter up with the United Kingdom authorities.
There are no estimates available of the number who emigrated to Britain in 1989. As the Deputy may be aware, net migratory estimates for the 12 month period ending mid-April will, in accordance with usual practice, become available in August next. These estimates, however, will relate only to the total picture and cannot be broken down on a country of destination basis.
On the question of the accommodation problems facing some of these emigrants, I would like to state that I fully share the concerns of my colleague, the Minister for Labour, who dealt with this question very extensively on 20 February 1990 in this House. I wish to repeat here his advice that young persons contemplating going to London should not go if they do not have accommodation and employment arranged in advance. I wish also to point out that the Government are providing financial assistance, through DÍON, the London Embassy based body, to organisations specifically dealing with the homeless.
On the question of taking the matter up with the British authorities, the Deputy will be aware that the direct provision of housing in Britain is the responsibility of the local authorities. The Embassy believes that the best way of influencing the policy of the latter is by encouraging organisations, which benefit from grants made available by DÍON, to explore partnerships with these authorities with a view to obtain matching funds from them. This is happening on an increasing scale and I am confident that over a period of time this will directly benefit more and more Irish people including those who are living in unsatisfactory conditions. I wish to assure the Deputy that the Embassy will continue to monitor the situation closely.
