In times of economic downturn, those with least influence suffer most. That political fact of life is being reflected throughout Irish society as the Coalition Government cuts back on spending. Such discrimination is particularly evident in relation to those Irish emigrants who went to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s and who now suffer severe health problems, with many of them sleeping rough in London.
Under the last National Agreement, "Prosperity and Fairness", the Government undertook to address the special needs of those people who were particularly marginalised or at the greatest risk of exclusion in Britain. It established a task force to develop a long-term, coherent response to their needs. But a recommendation by the task force to dramatically increase funding by 300 per cent, to €8 million for 2003, in support of advice, repatriation programmes and research has been ignored. Instead, the annual subvention was actually cut by 5 per cent to €2.57 million in 2003.
Dr Michael Curran of Trinity College, who recently completed a study of 1,000 Irish emigrants in London, believes our obligation to these people is being ignored out of a sense of shame concerning their departure. An estimated one million Irish-born people live in Britain and their health is significantly worse than that of the general population. They have lower life expectancy, with elevated rates of cancer and heart disease, and a significant number suffer from depression and schizophrenia.
A repatriation initiative by Independent TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, who established St Brendan's Village Project at Mulranny, Co Mayo, some years ago provided a template for sheltered housing and led to the creation of a Safe Home Programme involving the Irish Council of Social Housing. Consistent lobbying by up to 40 voluntary organisations in Britain, which provides advisory and welfare services to Irish emigrants, led to a substantial increase in Government funding in 2001. But these steps have fallen far short of what is required.
Many emigrants were forced by economic circumstances to leave rural Ireland. The money sent home often made the difference between savage poverty and bare necessity for their families here. Now they are growing old.
There have been success stories. Fine families have been raised and fortunes made. But many exiles live lives of quiet desperation and isolation in city bedsits. Others sleep rough. Three years ago, it appeared the Government was preparing to recognise their difficulties. That responsibility must not be evaded. Our emigrants cannot be air-brushed from history.