Michael Creed
Ceist:28 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare the financial consequences he envisages for his Department's finances, arising from the large number of immigrants now returning to this country.
Written Answers. - Returned Immigrants Social Welfare Payments.
It is not possible to estimate the impact of immigration on either social insurance income or social welfare expenditure, as there are no data available on the total number of immigrants returning to this country.
Some returning immigrants, who are searching for work, may seek an unemployment payment or other income support. This may lead to an increase in social welfare expenditure in the short term. In the longer term, however, returned immigrants will contribute towards the cost of social welfare benefits through their PRSI contributions while at work.
People who have had periods of social insurance in other member states of the EC will have their entitlements determined under the EC regulations on the social security of migrant workers. These regulations provide in a general way that the costs of such benefits will fall on the country where the insurance was paid.