Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding allocated under the emigrant support programme in 2020; the level of funding to be provided in 2021; if this will enable the expansion of existing programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3487/21]
View answerThe Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support our most vulnerable emigrants overseas, to strengthen Irish communities abroad and to facilitate the development of closer and more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish.
The budget for the programme in 2020 was €12.595 million. 529 applications for funding were received from 352 organisations in 30 countries. Final details of funding to individual organisations on a geographic basis will be available shortly.
In 2021, the budget allocation for the Emigrant Support is €13,095,000 (an increase of €500,000 from 2020). This increase reinforces the importance of our communities abroad, central to Global Ireland: Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025, which I launched last November.
The 2021 Emigrant Support Programme opened for applications on Wednesday 20 January and will be open for applications until 24 February.
In 2021 the Government, through the ESP is committed to prioritising projects that focus on:
Rebuilding (post Covid) through:
- Digital inclusion initiatives which enhance organisations’ delivery of welfare and heritage projects
- Building capacity and resilience within organisations
- Looking at new ways to deliver services
- Supporting volunteer community efforts
- Promoting mental health and social inclusion initiatives
Taking a broad and more inclusive approach to our diaspora:
- Supportive of initiatives that heal our relationships with emigrants who left Ireland in crisis;
- Greater support for outreach to traditionally under-represented groups (LGBTQI, Travellers, mixed ancestry Irish etc.) and new emigrants;
- Projects which reach out to youth and younger members of our diaspora (to include 3rd and 4th generation).
Further details can be found on https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/support-overseas/emigrant-support-programme/emigrant-support-programme-overview/.
