Press release
New Emigrant Support Small Grants Scheme launched by Minister Fleming
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
A new grant scheme to support Irish diaspora organisations was announced today by Minister for Diaspora, Seán Fleming.
The Emigrant Support Small Grants Scheme offers grants of €10,000 or less to organisations working with members of the Irish diaspora around the world. The new scheme is part of the government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
Encouraging first-time applicants to apply for funding for innovative projects and initiatives, Minister Fleming said:
"The government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) has, since its establishment in 2004, assisted over 530 organisations in 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million.
“Grants have ranged from small amounts for grassroots groups to major allocations awarded to voluntary and community organisations operating on a large scale.
“As the recently-appointed Minister for the Diaspora, I am looking forward to working with the many organisations that have benefited from the programme over the years. I am also very keen to see more first-time applications from smaller organisations.
“In the past, the application and reporting process may have seemed quite onerous for smaller organisations. To address this, I am pleased to announce that we are launching a Small Grants Scheme which will include more streamlined reporting requirements for organisations in receipt of grants of €10,000 or less. We are also looking at streamlining the application process in time for the 2024/25 round.
“So, if you are a smaller organisation, working with your local Irish diaspora community, and you have an idea for an initiative or an event, please click on dfa.ie and explore what our Emigrant Support Programme has to offer.
“I look forward to meeting representatives of many of these organisations, large or small, at the third Global Irish Civic Forum which will be held in Dublin Castle on 20-21 April next. We will be discussing there the positive impact of the government’s support for Irish emigrant communities and how we can enhance the programme in the years ahead."
The current round of the Emigrant Support Programme opened for applications on 18 January and will close on 15 February.
Strengthening connections with Irish communities abroad and promoting links with Irish people and people of Irish ancestry worldwide is a key objective of the Department of Foreign Affairs. These communities are made up of Irish emigrants, their descendants, those living abroad who share and celebrate an Irish heritage identity and global links with Ireland.
Central to achieving this objective is the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is administered by the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, in partnership with Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad.
Through the ESP, the government provides financial support to organisations engaged in the delivery of front line advisory services and community care to Irish emigrants, particularly to the more vulnerable and marginalised members of our community abroad, including the elderly. In addition, the ESP also facilitates Irish Government investment in a range of cultural, community and heritage projects, which foster a vibrant sense of Irish community and identity, as well as strategic capital projects.
Since its inception in 2004, the Emigrant Support Programme has assisted over 530 organisations in some 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million. Grants have ranged from small amounts for grass-roots groups, to major allocations awarded to voluntary and community organisations operating on a large scale. In 2022 alone, there were 529 project applications from 36 countries requesting almost €23 million worth of funding for the Programme's €12.593 million budget.
The Global Irish Civic Forum will be the third such forum, building on the work of the two previous iterations, in 2015 and 2017. It will be an opportunity for Government to connect in-person with its diaspora partners and for Irish community organisations from all over the world to connect with each other. Invitations have issued from Minister Fleming to Irish diaspora representatives, via our embassies and consulates, while the two-day programme is still being finalised.