Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
267. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount the Government has spent on initiatives to encourage the diaspora to return home in each of the years 2023, 2024, and 2025; the budget initiatives for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1325/26]
View answer268. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of the initiatives used to encourage the diaspora to return home; the number of the diaspora who returned home, in each of the years 2023 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1326/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
In the period in question the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not fund initiatives specifically aimed at encouraging members of the diaspora to return to Ireland.
Our priority, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government and the current Diaspora Strategy, is to coordinate the monitoring of barriers faced by those wishing to return and adopting measures to reduce them, wherever possible.
This work is one of the priorities of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair. The Committee brings together representatives of key government departments and external stakeholders, who we work with closely.
Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Department provides annual funding to Irish based organisations such as Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which assist returning emigrants. We also fund the Citizens' Information Board to maintain the "Returning to Ireland" portal, which provides a wide range of practical information and advice for returning emigrants and the "Back for Business" initiative, which provides peer guidance to early stage entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, and wish to start their own business. Details of this funding can be found on our website.
This work will remain a priority in our new Diaspora Strategy which will be launched in April.
The Department and our missions abroad continue to support initiatives by other departments and agencies aimed at providing information on employment opportunities in Ireland, including the HSE's recent engagement with the Irish healthcare diaspora.
