Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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27. To ask the Taoiseach the status of funding for a group (details supplied). [35459/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of the Taoiseach is not currently in receipt of an application for funding from this organisation. In 2016 the Kerry Emigrant Social Housing Association was awarded a grant of €5,000 under the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund which was administered by the Department of the Taoiseach. This was one of a total of 106 local and community projects around the country that were approved for funding under the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund in 2016 (the total amount of the fund in 2016 was €350,000).

This fund was designed to progress the objective of Global Irish Ireland's Diaspora Strategyto promote engagement by communities around the country with their own diaspora and was in support of the role of the Minister of State for the Diaspora who was previously appointed to this Department in addition to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In 2017 funding for local diaspora initiatives was transferred from the Department of the Taoiseach to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who now have responsibility in this matter.