Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be a further round of emigrant support programmes brought on stream later this year. [34000/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The 2013 grant round for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme closed on 20 February 2013. Since then applications received for 360 projects from 16 countries have been considered. The focus in 2013 will be on key frontline welfare and advisory services and on projects aimed at supporting new arrivals. I expect to be in a position to make announcements on this year’s grants shortly. 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 next opportunity to apply for funding for the Emigrant Support Programme will be in early 2014.