Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the emigrant support programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41668/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Emigrant Support Programme, ESP, provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to encourage closer links between these communities and Ireland.

The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.

In addition, since 2009, the Programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, and projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum and its follow up.

Funding of €10,546,458 was awarded under the Emigrant Support Programme in 2013, with €11,455,364 awarded in 2012 and €11,297,365 in 2011. Details of all grants awarded in these years are available on my Department’s website.

To date in 2014 expenditure of over €10,320,000 has been approved. A number of grant applications are currently being processed and I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a complete list of 2014 grants following the end of the financial year.

The Emigrant Support Programme will maintain funding of €11,595,000 in 2015.