Press release
Minister Brophy announces £5.6 million to support Irish community in Britain
From Department of Foreign Affairs
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Last updated on
- over £5.6 million in grants to 100 organisations in Britain
- an increase of almost £400,000 to meet challenges facing frontline services
- additional funding for survivor support groups
- a call for more flexibility in the provision of health supports to overseas survivors
The Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, announced details of over £5.6 million in funding for the Irish community in Britain during a visit to London today to meet Irish community leaders.
In Liverpool, the Minister has a number of engagements around the Liverpool Irish Festival. Minister Brophy will meet with Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, who visited Dublin with Mayor Andy Burnham at the end of March. The Minister’s programme ends with a visit to the Liverpool Irish Centre and a meeting with Irish community leaders.
Speaking at the Irish Embassy in London, the Minister thanked organisations supporting the Irish community in Britain and said:
"Your tireless dedication is deeply appreciated by myself and the Irish Government. We do not take it for granted. History will reflect that, a time when those most in need in our diaspora communities sought help, you answered this call."
Noting the particular concerns of members of the survivor community living in Britain, the Minister said:
"It is fair to say that there is probably no cohort of the Irish diaspora community that is more resilient than the survivor community.
"It is important, that we are in a position to continue to provide funding to organisations who provide dedicated outreach to the survivor community. I would like to acknowledge the way these organisations have come together to provide crucial support at this time.
"I know the opening of the payments scheme is keenly awaited by the very large number of survivors living here in Britain. I know, too, that some survivors and their representative groups have expressed disappointment with some aspects of the scheme.
"I will continue to urge more flexibility around the provision of additional health supports, particularly at the end of life stage, to survivors living outside of Ireland."
Minister Brophy added:
"Above all, it is important that survivors abroad are supported at this time. I will therefore be making additional funding available from the Emigrant Support Programme for organisations working with overseas survivors, including funding for additional outreach workers."
Looking to the year ahead, the Minister noted:
"The year ahead is going to be a challenging one on many fronts. I want to assure you of the Irish Government’s continued support for you and for your organisations. We will do all that we can to help you to help those suffering disproportionately, as a result of the cost of living pressures.
"We will continue to work with you to ensure that Emigrant Support Programme funding is targeted to meet the most immediate needs of our community."
The £5.6 million in funding will assist 100 organisations all across Britain and comes from Government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Funding announced has increased by just under £400,000 in recognition of cost of living pressures and impact on service provision facing many of organisations providing frontline services to the Irish community in Britain.
Global Ireland: Ireland Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 sets out what the government will do over the next five years to support and engage with our diaspora communities around the world. The Emigrant Support Programme remains central to this commitment.
Since 1984, the Irish Government has given financial support to voluntary agencies providing advice and welfare services to Irish emigrants overseas. The Department of Foreign Affairs working through Ireland’s embassy network coordinates the provision of support to communities abroad and administers the programme.
The main focus for funding under the Emigrant Support Programme remains frontline welfare service providers that support elderly Irish emigrants, and other vulnerable members of our communities worldwide. In more recent years the programme has also recognised the importance of strong and active Irish communities, funding projects which foster a sense of community, promoting vibrant networks and a sense of Irishness among the Irish abroad.
In 2022 the budget for the Emigrant Support Programme is €12,593,000. The Emigrant Support Programme funding year runs from 1 July – 30 June. Particular priorities for this year included an emphasis on supporting organisations rebuilding their services post pandemic, as well as seeking to reach out to under-represented groups amongst our diaspora. Further details can be found on www.dfa.ie
Please see a list of organisations awarded funding in the 2022-2023 Grant Round Emigrant Support Programme 2022-2023.
