William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures in place to support Irish emigrants wishing to return to Ireland; whether an economic and social assessment of barriers to return has been completed and acted upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66319/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, I am committed to facilitating the easier return to Ireland for our diaspora.

The 2018 Indecon Economic Report: Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants, which was commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, identified a number of economic and social barriers to return. Since its publication, the Department has engaged with other Government Departments and Agencies on the issues facing returnees.

Progress has been made on a number of issues and I will ensure that we continue to prioritise this important work in the Government's new diaspora strategy which will be published next year.

The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair, has identified the provision of information, advice and assistance as an area where more could be done for those looking to return home. returning emigrants. The Department provides annual funding to Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which assist returning emigrants. Through the Emigrant Support Programme, we also fund the Citizens' Information Board's "Returning to Ireland" portal. This portal contains a wide range of practical information and advice for returning emigrants.

I am also conscious that a number of those returning may wish to start their own business and the Department also funds the Back for Business initiative, which provides peer guidance to early stage entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland. The initiative has been very successful, helping new businesses find their feet and create employment in different parts of the country.

Access to driving licences is another issue that has come up regularly. Ireland currently allows licence exchanges with 21 jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and seven Canadian provinces. As exchange agreements with the US have to be concluded on a State by State basis, our focus initially is on those states with a significant Irish population. Engagement is currently underway with New York State.

In recent months, as part of the development of the next Diaspora Strategy, I have hosted a series of consultations with Irish communities around the world to inform its drafting. These in-person consultations have been supplemented by an online consultation, the Global Irish Survey, which ran throughout the summer, and asked participants for their views on barriers to return to Ireland. These are important discussions which have highlighted areas where the Government can support our diaspora in returning home, and these views will feed into the development of the new strategy.