Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the Government will take to smooth the bureaucratic and financial way for returning Irish emigrants with their families. [63815/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As set out in the Programme for Government, the Government remains committed to deepening our engagement with the diaspora and facilitating the easier return to Ireland for emigrants.

Reducing barriers faced by those who wish to return to Ireland is a central priority for the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair. The Committee consists of representatives of key government departments and external stakeholders working with the diaspora on this important issue.

Responding to the strong message I have heard, work is underway on facilitating reciprocal driving license exchange agreements with the US. As such agreements have to be concluded at State level, we will prioritise those states with significant Irish populations. Discussions have already begun between the Irish Road Safety Authority and their counterparts in New York.

In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will allocate grants of almost €16.5 million under the Emigrant Support Programme Among the projects funded are:

• support for a range of Irish centres and community groups abroad who can provide advice on returning home;
• organisations in Ireland such as Crosscare and Safe Home, who advise and facilitate Irish people who want to return home;
• the Returning to Ireland portal on the Citizens’ Information website, which contains a wide range of very practical information for returning emigrants; and
• the very successful Back for Business initiative, which provides peer to peer guidance to early stage entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland.