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Dáil Éireann - Volume 276 - 28 November, 1974 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Emigrants' Welfare. Mr. Moore Mr. Moore 544 [544] 20. Mr. Moore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by the Government each year on the welfare of Irish emigrants in the United Kingdom. Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (Mr. Kelly) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs) John Kelly Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (Mr. Kelly) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs): My Department operate a scheme for the repatriation from Great Britain to Ireland of Irish citizens who are regarded as being in need of repatriation assistance. Expenditure under this scheme amounts to about £1,000 a year. A sum of £10,000 a year is provided in the Vote for the Department of Labour for the allocation of grants towards the improvement of information and advisory services for intending emigrants and for Irish nationals abroad anxious to return to work in Ireland. Under Irish social security legislation and EEC regulations the Department of Social Welfare pay cash benefits to beneficiaries in other EEC countries. The amount currently being paid to such beneficiaries in the United Kingdom, most of whom are Irish emigrants, is estimated at £30,000 per week. The embassy in London generally concerns itself with the welfare of Irish emigrants in the United Kingdom and two officers of the embassy are involved virtually full time on this work. The annual cost of maintaining these two officers in the embassy is of the order of £12,000. Mr. Moore Mr. Moore Mr. Moore: Is it envisaged that there will be an extension of the service to our emigrants, particularly in view of present circumstances? Mr. Kelly Mr. Kelly Mr. Kelly: I regret the absence of the Minister who is abroad on public business. I do not think it would be proper for me to offer a view on what is evidently the point of view behind the Deputy's supplementary question. I will draw this to the Minister's attention. Dáil Éireann 276 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Irish Emigrants' Welfare. Questions 19741128
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