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Irish Communities Abroad

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Questions (385)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

385. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on Irish citizens and Irish communities abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37973/21]

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Written answers

Since its establishment in 2004, Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme has provided over €190 million in support to Irish communities across the world. Last year alone ESP grants totalling around €13 million assisted over 400 projects run by nearly 300 different organisations, the vast majority grassroots-based.

These range in scale from large-scale welfare support programmes in cities like New York, Boston and London to smaller events run by Irish community organisations in countries like Kenya and Malaysia. As well as these community groups, support is also provided to sporting, cultural and heritage organisations such as the GAA and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for their Global activities. The ESP includes capital grants for the maintenance and development of Irish community centres and for innovative projects such as the prestigious, new Irish Arts Centre in New York. It also encompasses support to Irish emigrants looking to return home through the Back for Business programme and to organisations such as Crosscare and the Citizens Information Bureau. In recent years, it has also fostered business networks and connected those networks across the globe.

The Programme has been of vital importance during COVID-19, allowing us to establish the COVID Response Fund - specifically tailored to help Irish communities across the globe stay connected and to work collectively to protect our most vulnerable emigrants. The positive impact that this Fund has made will be continued in this year's round of ESP allocations.

The Emigrant Support Programme is the front-facing part of a wider, new Diaspora Strategy which was launched by the Government last November.

The new Strategy takes account of evolving circumstances and needs and sets out a number of guiding principles and initiatives to strengthen the relationship between Ireland and our diaspora. It is more inclusive and reflects the rich diversity of our global community. It also embraces the reverse diaspora of people who have lived, studied or worked in Ireland before returning to their home countries as well as the affinity diaspora who hold a deep appreciation for our people, places and culture.

The new strategy has been shaped by contributions from hundreds of individuals and organisations both in Ireland and in Irish communities around the world. This engagement continues and will, I hope, help shape and strengthen the Emigrant Support Programme in the years ahead so that it continues to be something in which we as people - whether at home or abroad - can be justly proud.

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