Ireland is set to cut its funding for overseas emigrant groups by nearly 7 percent just as emigration from Ireland is set to expand.

The economic advisory group, popularly known as "An Bord Snip," in Ireland has recommended lopping €1 million ($1.4m)  off the total budget of €15 million ($21m) for the Irish abroad.

The €15 million includes €10 million for British groups, €3.5 million to the U.S., €163,000 to Australia, €146,000 to Canada and smaller sums to South Africa, Argentina, Zimbabwe and China.

The recommendation comes amidst leaked reports from the Irish government which said Ireland needed between 100,000 and 150,000 people to emigrate to make the cuts successful.