Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide assurances that proposed cutbacks in the various Departments will not impact adversely on the vital front-line work being carried out by the Safe Home programme, which continues to assist in the repatriation and resettlement of Irish emigrants from various countries worldwide, who by their lifelong remittances have contributed on a major scale to the development of the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31093/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government have progressively and substantially increased the level of funding available for emigrant services in recent years. These increases have enabled the Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department, to provide greater financial support to frontline welfare organisations which assist the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities, including the Safe Home Programme.

My Department continues to be very supportive of the work undertaken by the Safe Home Programme. The award of a €249,900 grant in April of this year brought the Department's total funding to the organisation since 2003 to over €1,100,000. In 2007, additional Government funding, totalling €72,000, was also awarded to the Safe Home Programme by the Department of Environment and Local Government and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. This substantial funding is testament to the high value which the Government places on the work performed by the organisation in enabling elderly Irish emigrants to return to live in Ireland.

I can assure t he Deputy that the Government remains committed to supporting frontline welfare agencies and organisations, including the Safe Home Programme. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, all grant applications for Emigrant Support funding are reviewed on their respective merits each year.