Emigrant Support Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Ceisteanna (340)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

340. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated full-year cost of increasing the budget for the emigrant support programme by 10%. [16730/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The 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 is €12.595 million and is a demonstration of the Government commitment to our people abroad.

An increase of 10% in the budget for the Emigrant Support Programme would cost €1,259,500.