Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the statistics available to his Department on the numbers of emigrants from Ireland on a yearly basis in the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19450/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The figures requested by the Deputy in respect of immigration to Britain, America, Canada and Australia from 2003 to 2012 are set out below. These statistics are published by the CSO and can be found on their website.The Deputy should note that the prior to 2007, specific figures for Australia and Canada are not available with both countries included in the “Other Countries” category. For the purposes of these figures, “Other Countries” refers to all countries except, the UK, US and our 26 EU partners.

Estimated Emigration (Thousand) by Year and Country of Destination, 2003-2006

Estimated Emigration (Thousand) by Year and Country of Destination, 2007-2012*

*Figures for 2012 are preliminary. provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Between 2004 and 2012, over €104 million has been provided under the Programme. Details of all grant recipients since 2006 can be found on my Department’s website at http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=298. The emphasis of the Emigrant Support Programme is on supporting culturally sensitive, front-line welfare services, targeted at the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities, particularly in Britain and the United States. These services have made a substantive difference to the lives of these communities overseas through reducing homelessness, tackling social isolation, and enabling Irish emigrants to access their local statutory entitlements.

In addition, the ESP has facilitated Government support for a range of community and heritage projects, strategic capital projects and other initiatives aimed at creating practical results-orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, including those that emerged from the Global Irish Economic Forums.

I am pleased that, despite the difficult financial situation we face, the Government has maintained the 2013 funding for the ESP at €11.59 million, the same level as 2012. The focus in 2013 will be on key front-line welfare and advisory services and on projects aimed at supporting new arrivals. The 2013 grant round closed on 20 February. Applications for 360 projects from 16 countries are currently under review. I expect to be in a position to make announcements in the coming weeks.