Written answers

Tuesday, 4 May 2004

Department of Foreign Affairs

Irish Emigrants

8:00 pm

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proportion of the promised €18 million which will be allocated in 2004 to assist elderly Irish emigrants in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12700/04]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The amounts recommended in the task force report, including €18 million in 2004, were seen by the task force as the optimum amounts required if its recommendations are to be implemented immediately. I have made clear that the measures proposed by the task force cannot be put into effect overnight, even if the level of resources advocated could be provided, because of their range and complexity. The implementation of the recommendations will have to be phased over a period of years. The total allocation this year for emigrant services in the Department of Foreign Affairs's Vote is €4 million. This represents an increase of €1 million, or one third, over 2003. The lion's share of the increase, €3.57 million, will go to the DION fund for services to Irish emigrants in the UK, €400,000 will be allocated to Irish welfare agencies in the US and €48,000 will go to agencies in Australia. I have made provision for grants to be made to ÉAN, the umbrella body for voluntary agencies in Ireland providing services to emigrants, and to the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas. I hope to find additional funds through savings in my Department's Vote later in the year, which will enable me to increase the expenditure to Irish emigrants even further. As I have said in the House previously, 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 voluntary agencies at home and abroad to support our emigrants overseas.

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