Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Support for returning emigrants remains a priority for the Government and Department. It falls within the remit of the interdepartmental committee on the Irish abroad, which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Brophy. The increased fund can partly be used for that. The bulk of the extra €1.5 million will be spent abroad, dealing with the kinds of cost-of-living issues and pressures we face here. Many of the Irish abroad are in vulnerable situations and may have seen increased rental costs or other pressures. They need the support programmes that are available. We have factored in some extra money for such programmes because of the increased costs for many of these organisations. I am sure the Deputy knows that these organisations exist across US and Canadian cities, and in many parts of the UK. There is a lot of poverty and vulnerability there and we need to ensure they are looked after. That is primarily what the extra €1.5 million is about. I take the Deputy's point, however, in respect of the returning Irish. We have done a number of things. The Deputy might be familiar with the successful back for business initiative from which a number of people have benefited. The Government did a report a couple of years ago to itemise the specific challenges involved in returning to Ireland. Those included opening bank accounts,-----