Local Diaspora Engagement Fund

From Department of the Taoiseach

The purpose of the funding is to promote diaspora engagement at a county, local and community level.  This is in line with the objectives of Global Irish:  Ireland’s Diaspora Policy which was published in March, 2015 and acknowledges the importance of a sense of place to the members of the Irish diaspora and the potential for communities and counties in Ireland to reach out to their own diaspora and build relationships for mutual benefit.   The aim is to provide support to local and community projects and initiatives that are focused on developing strong diaspora links within the community. Please see a copy of the policy here. 

Priority will be given to projects which fall under the following categories:

1. Culture and Heritage

2. Genealogy

3. Communications

4. Building Networks

Qualification and evaluation criteria

In order to qualify for consideration, applicants will have to confirm compliance with the conditions of the scheme as to funding and timescale for delivery.  The evaluation criteria will include:

• the quality and relevance of the proposal;

• the likely impact of the project relative to the size of the grant sought;

• the nature of the activities planned.

Budget and grants available:

There is a total of €350,000 available under this grant scheme.  The maximum amount of an individual grant to be awarded to a project is €20,000 and no more than 75% of the overall cost of any project will be funded.

Application process

The Local Diaspora Toolkit may be a useful resource for applicants wishing to devise diaspora engagement projects.

The closing date for funding applications is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Please return your completed application via email to localdiasporafund@taoiseach.gov.ie.

Alternatively, if you would like to return this via post, please send your application to:  Peter McHugh, Department of the Taoiseach, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

You can also contact us via localdiasporafund@taoiseach.gov.ie if you have any queries.

Funding decisions will be made in late April – early May and applicants will be notified accordingly.

Link to Application Form