Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans she has developed to facilitate the return of Irish emigrants to help rejuvenate rural Ireland. [11760/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides significant funding and support through the Emigration Support Programme, to assist citizens who wish to return to Ireland. Through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish A broad, the Minister for the Diaspora, Joe McHugh T.D., has been working to oversee joined-up delivery of the diaspora policy and also to examine issues affecting the Irish abroad and those wishing to return home to Ireland. My Department is represented on this Committee and will work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that rural Ireland remains a tangible option for those returning to Ireland.

The Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched in January, will help to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in rural Ireland. By supporting new economic opportunities in the regions, rejuvenating rural towns and villages and supporting vibrant local communities, we can make rural Ireland an attractive proposition for those emigrants who wish to return home to Ireland.