Emigrant groups may share in cash
windfall
By staff reporter
Irish people living in Britain could share in a multi-million government
money pot — if Fine Gael has their way.
Ireland’s second largest political party were in Coventry recently
to visit the city’s Irish community and said Irish people in Britain
should have an opportunity to apply for monies from the Dormant Accounts
Disbursement Board.
The Dormant Accounts Fund is comprised of unclaimed monies from credit
institutions such as banks, post offices and credit unions as well as
insurance undertakings that have not been reclaimed by their owners for
at least 15 years.
Spokesperson on Emigrant Affairs Paul Connaughton who led the party’s
delegation to Coventry said: “The dormant fund now stands at over
300million, much of which was originally deposited by our emigrants and
it is only fair and equitable that they should now benefit from such funding.”
He added: “There is a whole range of organisations in Britain dedicated
to meeting the requirements of Irish emigrants in need but they are greatly
restricted in what they can do because of a shortage of funds and it is
totally unfair that at present Irish emigrant organisations cannot apply
for monies from the dormant fund account.”
Deputy Connaughton was accompanied on the trip to Coventry by Dinny McGinley,
Fine Gael Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Fine
Gael Chief Whip and Wexford Deputy Paul Kehoe.
Deputy McGinley said: “Fine Gael will continue to use whatever opportunities
we have to highlight this issue and is determined to try and improve the
situation of the Irish living in Britain.”
While in Coventry the delegation paid a visit to Teach na hÉireann,
an elders day care centre whose main aim is to help isolated and housebound
Irish elderly people in Coventry and the surrounding area.
They provide social and physical welfare for the elderly Irish in Coventry,
offering social activities, health care advice and information.
The delegation also paid a visit to Norton House, which has been helping
Coventry’s homeless, vulnerable and lonely for over 25 years.
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