Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2014
395. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the budget allocation to his Department for the diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41666/14]
View answerPrimary responsibility for engaging with emigrant communities and the wider Diaspora falls within the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Irish Abroad Unit of the Department takes the lead role on this engagement and administers a number of schemes and programmes targeted at and supporting Irish communities abroad, including the Emigrant Support Programme. Since 2004, the Department, through the Emigrant Support Programme, has disbursed in excess of €114 million towards a wide range of organisations and projects supporting Irish citizens and community and Diaspora groups around the world.
The Emigrant Support Programme provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.
In addition, since 2009, the Programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, and projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum and its follow up.
The budget allocation for the Emigrant Support Programme in 2014 is €11,595,000. To date in 2014 expenditure of over €10,320,000 has been approved. A number of grant applications are currently being processed and I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a complete list of 2014 grants following the end of the financial year.
The Emigrant Support Programme will maintain funding of €11,595,000 in 2015. In addition a further €1 million will be available next year to support new diaspora projects and initiatives under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach.
