Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2004
151 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider establishing an agency abroad under his Department to co-ordinate services for Irish emigrants; if he will consider expanding the existing budget for the support of Irish emigrants who are experiencing hardship abroad to the promised level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12293/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not opposed in principle to the establishment of an agency for the Irish abroad, as proposed by the task force on policy regarding emigrants, and I do not rule this out. However, in the context of the present level of funding, it would be inappropriate to devote a large proportion of this amount to the administrative costs of setting up and running an agency. I have decided, therefore, as an interim step, to establish a dedicated unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, when staff resources become available after the EU Presidency, to co-ordinate the provision of services to the Irish abroad and to carry forward the implementation of the task force's report.
The total allocation for emigrant services in the Vote for the Department of Foreign Affairs this year is €4 million. This represents an increase of €1 million or one third over 2003. The greater share of the €4 million, €3.57 million, will go to the DION fund for services to Irish emigrants in the UK. A sum of €400,000 will be allocated to Irish welfare agencies in the U.S and €48,000 will go to agencies in Australia. I have also made provision for grants to ÉAN, the umbrella body for voluntary agencies in Ireland providing services to emigrants, and to the Irish commission for prisoners overseas. I also hope to be able to find some additional funds through savings in my Department's Vote later in the year which will enable me to increase this amount even further.
I will continue to implement the report of the task force and to work in partnership with the governments of the countries concerned and with the voluntary Irish agencies at home and abroad to support our emigrants overseas.
