Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project welcomes the publication of Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy (2026 – 2030) as one of most ambitious Irish diaspora strategies to date. Launched by Minister Neale Richmond on the first day of the Global Irish Civic forum (30 April 2026), we were delighted to be in attendance and commend all the hard work and contributions by the civil and governmental actors involved, as well as the lived experiences of Irish diaspora that have helped shape the strategy.
The new Strategy sets out one overarching commitment ‘Stronger Communities and Deeper Connections’, with twenty-three targeted commitments detailed under five interwoven themes:
- Wellbeing and Advocacy,
- Identity and Culture,
- Connection and Contribution,
- Departure and Return,
- Sharing Our Experience.
We applaud the dedication of a number of commitments to aspects and areas we have previously identified through our client-based and advocacy work as key priorities, and which we addressed in our 2025 submission as part of the strategy consultation process, notably barriers facing returnees, inclusion, and adaptability in response to emerging realities.
New Emergency Assistance Grant
As long-standing recipients of the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) fund, we endorse the commitment to sustaining projects that promote active inclusion and welfare-related support, with a focus on the underrepresented and vulnerable. In particular, we welcome the introduction of the ESP Emergency Assistance Grant to support individuals in crisis and strengthen the capacity of Irish ESP funded organisations to respond swiftly to immediate diaspora needs in times of crisis, and look forward to further details on this initiative.
Challenges For Returnees
We distinctly acknowledge Commitment 22.2, which recognises a number of the key challenges faced by the Irish diaspora and their families upon return to Ireland, including access to PPS numbers, and matters relating to non-EEA spouses and de facto partners, with calls to keep such issues a priority in policy discussion. We note however that there remains other issues facing Irish returnees and their families that require multi-departmental engagement, including processing times of visas and preclearance for non-EEA spouse and de-facto partner, and challenges with access to social welfare supports resulting from the Habitual Residence Condition.
Similarly, while we agree that challenges around accessing housing may not be unique to the diaspora, we believe that establishing a commitment around creating clear support pathways for emergency accommodation is key to a responsible and enhanced governmental response to crisis-returnees with unique well-being and re-integration needs.
Pre-Departure Resources
In light of our work with both returnees and emigrants, we also recognise Commitment 21, which encourages collaboration between Irish ESP organisations, Embassies /Consulates, and local partners to develop a Know Before You Go service and to use The Global Irish Hub for comprehensive guidance and targeted support. Other commendable commitments that echo our calls in our latest submission include, increasing support of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR), strengthening data-driven policy development and research collaboration, as well as concluding driving-license exchange agreements with US states.
Looking Forward
In the spirit of this strategy and our own key priorities, we look forward to supporting and implementing the proposed commitments including by expanding and developing our established connections, engagement and collaborative initiatives that supports returnees and emigrants. We will also continue advocating for an enhanced interdepartmental coordination and response efforts especially to the needs of crisis-returnees and promote policies that can attend to the specific and shared needs of diaspora. Lastly, we believe that implementation is reinforced by the continuation of the sitting of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, chaired by Minister Richmond.
