Irish Government sets out more than 20 commitments in new Diaspora Strategy

Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 was published on Thrusday, April 30, by Ireland's Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD.

The strategy, the third of its kind, was published following almost a year of extensive consultations led by Minister Richmond. The consultation included the Global Irish Survey, the first-ever online consultation with the Irish abroad, which ran through the summer of 2025. It received 10,000 responses.

The development of a new Diaspora Strategy was also one of the commitments in the latest Programme for Government.

Setting out the priority areas for engagement with the Irish abroad for the next five years, the new Diaspora Strategy makes 23 commitments across five key threads: wellbeing and advocacy; identity and culture; connection and contribution; departure and return; sharing our experience.

An Action Plan for the commitments will be published in the period ahead, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Thursday.

The Diaspora Strategy was launched at the fourth Global Irish Civic Forum, which is being hosted at Dublin's Croke Park on Thursday and Friday.

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the forum "is an integral element of the Government’s engagement with Irish communities abroad and will bring together 250 people from 21 countries."

Commitments in Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030

Wellbeing and Advocacy

1. Overarching Commitment: Over the course of this strategy, we will work with the diaspora to ensure our relationship with the global Irish communities is a dynamic one that meets their needs and can adapt to evolving circumstances.
2. Ensure the ESP [Emigrant Support Progamme] is allocated across all threads of this strategy and continues to respond to the needs of our communities abroad in line with best practice and the highest governance standards
3. Promote the wellbeing of Irish people overseas
4. Continue to support survivors of institutional abuse living overseas, recognising the difficult circumstances that may have caused them to leave Ireland and their specific needs.
5. Advocate for our diaspora.
6. Support diversity and inclusion within Irish community organisations and
   encourage stronger engagement with underrepresented and marginalised groups.
7. Continue to provide high quality and responsive consular assistance to citizens in need. 

Identity and Culture

1. Revitalise the Global Irish Hub as a trusted platform for online resources for the diaspora, bringing together Irish media, film, visual arts, and archival and educational materials available overseas, as well as links to supports and practical advice for living abroad or returning home.
2. Nurture a strong identity and sense of belonging among young people and newer generations of the Irish diaspora
3. Strengthen and advance Irish arts overseas, recognising the central role they play in building identity, belonging and community.
4. Recognise the growing commitment to the Irish language among the diaspora by providing opportunities to learn and use the language.
5. Support the interest among the diaspora for learning about and understanding Ireland.
6. Preserve and commemorate the history of the Irish diaspora.
7. Recognise the role sport can play in engaging people, strengthening communities and deepening the diaspora’s connection to Ireland as envisaged in the Government’s International Sports Diplomacy Strategy. 

Connection and Contribution

1. Enhance our capacity to engage with communities overseas and facilitate
   collaboration between diaspora organisations. 
2. Maintain and strengthen connections to Ireland among the diaspora.
3. Recognise the outstanding work of volunteers and community organisations to ensure the wellbeing of the Irish diaspora.
4. Invest strategically in Ireland’s business diaspora in line with the priorities of the Action Plan on Market Diversification and Business Events 2030.
5. Engage the valuable expertise and insights of the diaspora to support delivery of the Government’s trade and investment priorities. 
6. Deepen our engagement with our academic and research communities overseas.

Departure and Return

1. Provide accessible pre-departure information for those leaving Ireland and ensure emigrants are supported on arrival in a new country.
2. Facilitate the transition for those who are moving home to Ireland.

Sharing Our Experience

1. Promote Ireland as a hub of expertise in diaspora engagement on a global level.

In a statement on Thursday, Minister Richmond said: “Building on what we heard during the most extensive consultations ever undertaken with our diaspora, supporting the most vulnerable remains at the heart of the strategy, as is our commitment to partner with Irish communities overseas to promote our culture, music, identity and sport, and to showcase the values of a modern and diverse Ireland to a global audience.

“The strategy also recognises the real appetite among the diaspora for supporting our trade and economic priorities. We will step up our engagements to embrace these influential networks and vital experiences in support of accessing new markets, securing Foreign Direct Investment, and driving job creation and innovation.

“This Government recognises the importance and value of engaging with the Irish abroad. Our new strategy shares the underlying commitment of our earlier strategies to deepen the bonds between Ireland and the Irish abroad.

“As the nature and patterns of emigration change, the commitment to ensure we strengthen our engagement with newer generations is particularly important so that Irish communities around the world remain strong and vibrant in the years ahead.

“It is very welcome to see around 30,000 Irish citizens returning on an annual basis, bringing with them experiences of living overseas. The strategy recognises the need to reduce the administrative barriers some are facing, and I will continue to work with those who advocate on their behalf to address challenges such as driving licence recognition, social welfare, PPS numbers, and motor insurance for returning emigrants.

“I am committed to building an enduring relationship with the Irish abroad and ensuring those who emigrated have access to a strong system of supports and networks and can contribute to deepening social, cultural, and economic connections with Ireland.”