Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) is a tangible expression of the Government’s support, commitment to, and interest in, global Irish communities, as outlined in Global Ireland: Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025. 

The new strategy, a key commitment in the Programme for Government, keeps the welfare of the Irish Abroad at the heart of the ESP and it takes a more inclusive approach to that engagement - both geographically and toward traditionally underrepresented groups.

The funding of frontline welfare services remains the single largest element of the Government's support to Irish community organisations abroad.  Projects funded range in scale from large welfare support programmes in cities with traditionally large Irish communities such as New York, Boston, London and Sydney to smaller events run by Irish community organisations in all regions of the world.

This assistance is particularly focused on the most vulnerable. The importance of the Emigrant Support Programme in this regard was underscored in our reponse to the Covid-19 pandemic with the creation of a dedicated Covid Response Fund of nearly €2 million tailored to help Irish communities abroad work collectively to protect our most vulnerable emigrants. 

My Department also provides significant funding to a number of organisations based in Ireland, including Crosscare and Safe Home, to support returning emigrants in crisis situations.  We recently expanded our support to the Samaritans, to provide 24-hour Freephone access to their helpline in Ireland for Irish people abroad. 

The Government is committed to the continued development of these projects to provide advice and assistance for the Irish abroad who are in distress, struggling to cope or who are in need of emotional support.

The Government's new Diaspora Strategy recognises that the well-being of our Diaspora is dependent on having strong and active community engagement.  To this end we also support projects which preserve and build that sense of community, promoting vibrant networks and a sense of Irishness.  In this regard, substantial support is provided to sporting, cultural and heritage organisations such as the GAA and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for the important role they play in keeping our communities abroad connected to each other and to Ireland. 

The 2022 Emigrant Support Programme funding round was launched in January.  It prioritises outreach to those who are less connected to our existing networks, or who may have disengaged or been unable to access supports during the pandemic.  It recognises the need to heal the relationship with our emigrants who left Ireland in crisis, as a result of discrimination or as victims of institutional abuse, with a particular focus on initiatives to support those survivors living abroad. Announcements on the disbursement of this year's ESP funding round will be made in the coming months.