Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his Department’s emigrant support programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4399/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Emigrant Support Programme is central to our engagement with our communities abroad.

Since its inception in 2004, the Emigrant Support Programme has assisted over 530 organisations in some 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million. The value of the sustained investment in the programme was evident during the incredible response of our community organisations and communities during the pandemic. 

Grants have ranged from small amounts for grass-roots groups to major allocations awarded to voluntary and community organisations operating on a large scale. 

These range in scale from large-scale welfare support programmes in cities like New York, Boston and London to smaller events run by Irish community organisations in countries like Kenya and Malaysia.

As well as these community groups, support is also provided to sporting, cultural and heritage organisations such as the GAA and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for their global activities. It also encompasses support to Irish emigrants looking to return home and to organisations such as Crosscare and Safe Home. In recent years, it has also fostered business networks and connected those networks across the globe. 

The budget for the 2022 Emigrant Support Programme was €14,093,000.  Details of funding for 2022 on a geographical basis are currently being finalised and should be available shortly.

The application round for the Emigrant Support Programme 2023/24 opened on Wednesday, 18^thJanuary 2023.Applications can be submitted up to 5.30pm (local time) on Wednesday, 15^thFebruary 2023 through www.irishabroadgrants.ie

In 2023, the Emigrant Support Programme will prioritise projects which align with the objectives of the Government’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025, with a particular focus this year on Pillar 1 of the Strategy - “Our People”.

These would include new and innovative projects which protect the dignity, well-being and welfare of Irish emigrants, strengthen ties with our diaspora and reach out to engage with those who are less connected to our existing networks, including digital initiatives, new ways of building connections and support for the vulnerable.

We are particularly keen to support initiatives from new organisations and those working with Irish communities in new geographic locations.

We will also, of course, continue to welcome applications which align with any of the other pillars of the Strategy.

To streamline the process for smaller organisations, we are introducing a Small Grants Programme this year for organisations in receipt of funding no greater than €10,000, which will mean less onerous reporting requirements for smaller grants received in 2023. We are also planning to simplify the application process for smaller organisations in time for the 2024/25 round.

Working closely with our mission network, we will continue to ensure that the support provided under the Emigrant Support Programme is targeted to those who need it most. Further details on the programme can be found on Emigrant Support Programme - Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie).