Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an overview of the emigrant support services provided by his Department; the budget allocated for them in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4383/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains strongly committed to supporting Irish communities oversees all over the world, in line with its Global Ireland: Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025.

Our new Programme for Government includes a number of priorities to further strengthen our engagement with the diaspora, in particular cultivating ties with newer generations.

Supporting culturally sensitive, frontline welfare services, targeted at the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities remains at the heart of our approach. We also work with partners overseas to promote vibrant networks that nurture our culture and heritage, assist new arrivals and strengthen our trade, business and education links.

I will also ensure that those considering a return to Ireland do not face unnecessary administrative barriers and have access to relevant advice and assistance. A good example of this is the Returning to Ireland portal hosted by the Citizens’ Information Board, which the Department funds and contains a wide range of very practical information.

Our work is underpinned by the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme. Since it was established in 2004, we have provided over €250 million in grants to 850 charitable and Irish community organisations in 51 countries. A list of groups who have received funding is made available at: www.dfa.ie

In 2025, the Department will allocate €16,493,000 in support of strengthening ties with the diaspora and our communities overseas.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the progress of commitments in the programme for Government regarding the facilitation of an easier return to Ireland for emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4441/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a number of commitments to further strengthen our engagement with the diaspora including reducing barriers faced by those who wish to return home.

In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will allocate €16.493 million to support the needs of our Irish community overseas. I will ensure that the Emigrant Support Programme continues to support projects focused on providing advice and assistance to those considering a return to Ireland.

We are working closely with partners such as Crosscare and Safe Home. We fund the Returning to Ireland portal hosted by the Citizens’ Information Board, which contains a wide range of very practical information for anyone returning.

We also support the very successful Back for Business initiative, which provides peer guidance to Irish entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland. The 2025 programme participants met for the first time this morning.

I chair the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad and will convene the Committee in the coming weeks to drive delivery of all the Government’s priorities in this area.

Work is already underway on the development of the Government’s new diaspora strategy. I look forward to working with all relevant stakeholders over the coming months to ensure the new strategy reflects the ever-changing needs of the Global Irish family. It will be particularly important that the new strategy builds on the priorities set out in the Programme for Government for reducing administrative barriers and improving the provision of information to those wishing to return to Ireland.