I am aware of the call made at the Conference of the Association of Health Boards in Bundoran on 27 April 2001 for additional funding and assistance for Irish immigrants in Britain, and in particular, funding for voluntary organisations who assist Irish people who have health problems, including depression and mental health problems; and funding of repatriation programmes to assist elderly Irish people in Britain to return to live in Ireland.
Funding for Irish emigrant welfare in Britain is provided through the Díon fund. Since 1984 the Irish Government has provided annual financial assistance under this fund to support Irish voluntary organisations in Britain who provide advisory and welfare services for Irish emigrants. Last year grants totalling £1,015,000 were paid to forty welfare organisations working with vulnerable and at risk' members of the Irish community in Britain. The Government has provided an additional £1 million for Díon this year to assist Irish people in Britain who are most in need, including those with health problems. This brings the total Díon allocation for 2001 to over £2 million – £2,051,000 – representing a new record level of support for this purpose. This year's increase is the largest ever increase in the Díon fund and brings the total grant allocation since its inception in 1984 to almost £10 million.
The Díon fund is provided from the Vote of my Department and it is administered by the Embassy of Ireland in London through the Díon Committee. In the main, Díon grants support the employment of professional workers in Irish voluntary organisations in Britain who provide advice and assistance over a range of areas, including housing and health and welfare entitlements, to both the newly arrived and to those who have been in Britain for some time, and in areas with significant Irish populations. Many of the welfare organisations funded by Díon assist elderly Irish people who are socially excluded and in poor health and circumstances.