The Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) is a tangible
expression of the Government’s support, commitment to, and interest in,
Global Irish communities, as outlined in The Global Irish: Ireland's Diaspora Policy.
Strengthening connections with Irish Communities abroad and promoting
links with Irish people and people of Irish ancestry worldwide is also a
key objective of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 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 and Trade 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 36 countries with grants totalling
over €170 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 2018 alone, there was over
490 applications from more than 20 countries requesting over €21 million
worth of funding for the Programme's €11.6 million budget.
Objectives of ESP – Is your project eligible?
We are interested in funding charities, charitable bodies or
voluntary/not-for-profit projects which seek to fulfil one or more of
the following objectives:
Welfare
- Address the diverse and evolving needs of Irish emigrants, especially the elderly, disadvantaged and vulnerable;
- Facilitate access to statutory and voluntary services in their country of residence for Irish emigrants;
- Support projects which address social isolation and actively improve the physical and mental health of older Irish people.
Connectedness
- Celebrate, maintain and strengthen the links between Ireland and the Global Irish;
- Foster a more vibrant sense of community and of Irish identity;
- Support business networks to connect Irish people to each other at home and abroad;
- Research and define the emerging needs of Irish communities abroad;
- Support development of new ways to communicate and connect with the increasingly diverse global Irish, including non-traditional diasporas and young emigrants;
- Improve awareness and understanding of the Irish emigrant and diaspora experience.
Moreinfo: https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/support-overseas/emigrant-support-programme/emigrant-support-programme-overview