Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount allocated to the emigrant support programme in the years 2020 to 2024 and expected expenditure in 2025, in tabular form; the cost of increasing expenditure on this programme by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42840/24]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost to his Department of developing the Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42841/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.

The Government’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 reflects the evolving circumstances and needs of the Global Irish and sets out a number of principles and initiatives focused on sustaining and renewing a meaningful connection with our diaspora.

The strategy was shaped by contributions from hundreds of individuals and organisations both in Ireland and in Irish communities across the world. The cost of developing the Strategy itself was in the region of €45,000, with expenditure mainly related to the costs of hosting consultations in Ireland and key diaspora centres globally as well as the costs for graphic design and printing.

Delivery of the strategy is supported by the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is managed by the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Since its inception in 2004, the programme has assisted more than 850 organisations, in 51 countries, with total grants of more than €237 million.

Over the course of the Strategy, the emphasis of the Emigrant Support Programme has rightly remained on supporting culturally sensitive, frontline welfare services, targeted at the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities. We also continue to channel funding in support of cultural, heritage, business and Irish Studies projects. All of the projects supported are aligned with one or more of the key pillars of the Strategy.

In respect of the period referred to by the Deputy, the following sums were allocated in support of our global Irish communities as follows:

Work continues on the 2024 programme and it is expected that over €16 million in grants will be disbursed this year to Irish community organisations and related projects all over the world.

The 2025 allocation will be €16,493,000.