Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
93. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount that has been allocated to the promotion and support of an organisation (details supplied) abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22794/26]
View answer147. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding that has been allocated for the promotion and support of an organisation (details supplied) abroad in each respective year from 2023 to 2025 inclusive, and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23045/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 147 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has had a long-standing and very positive relationship with the GAA which recognises the central role the organisation plays in Irish communities all over the world, both as a sporting organisation and as a very unique social and community network. There are currently over 500 clubs now officially registered with GAA headquarters.
The Global Games Development Fund (GGDF) was established by the Department and the GAA in 2012 to further develop Gaelic Games overseas by providing financial support specifically for projects and initiatives that increase or improve opportunities for the Irish diaspora and other communities abroad to experience and enjoy playing Gaelic Games. This initiative has been extremely successful in helping the expansion and development of GAA clubs across Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand, South America and the US. Co-funded by the Department and the GAA, the GGDF will support 173 projects in 38 countries in 2026.
In addition to the GGDF, the Department also supports (on a co-funded basis) the engagement of Games Promotion Officers in Britain and the USA and a recently established Head of Operations role for Gaelic Games Europe.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding for the GGDF and Games Promotion positions for the years 2023 to 2025 inclusive was:
- 2023 - €521,388
- 2024 - €537,939
- 2025 - €545,754
In 2026, the Department will allocate funding totalling €530,829 to these programmes.
In a further demonstration of the Department’s commitment to supporting the growth of Gaelic Games abroad, we allocated a capital support grant of €500,000 towards the development of the Lancashire GAA Centre of Excellence at Broughton Park in Manchester. I visited Broughton Park last June for the 2025 Northern Community Gaelic Games and had the honour of turning the sod on this major development, which will provide a state of the art facility for Gaelic Games in the region and a new hub for the Irish community. This will bring the Department's financial support to the GAA overseas in 2026 to over €1 million.
In addition to our financial support, our Embassies and Consulates work closely on the ground with GAA clubs and provide further support and promotion of both Gaelic Games and Irish heritage.
In line with the priorities set out in the Government’s International Sports Diplomacy Strategy and the forthcoming diaspora strategy, I am committed to ensuring this long running partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the GAA continues to grow Gaelic Games abroad while also providing a platform to deepen our connection with Irish communities overseas and to share our heritage with the world.
