Jim Higgins
Ceist:63 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the amount of assets repatriated by Irish emigrants in 1988 and 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Emigrants' Repatriated Assets.
Emigrants' remittances are by their nature difficult to identify. Estimates of emigrants' remittances, including asset repatriations, are included as part of the credit side of the aggregate item, International Transfers, in the Balance of International Payments statement published by the CSO. The statement does not list the components of the international transfers item separately. However, I understand that emigrants' remittances to Ireland in both 1988 and 1989 have been estimated at between £40 million and £50 million in each year.