With Irish emigrant numbers still above pre-pandemic levels, the Department of Foreign Affairs has released €16.4 million from the 2025 Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) to more than 530 welfare and cultural organisations overseas.
Details published on 24 December show that roughly one-third of the budget is earmarked for hardship grants in the UK, Australia, the US and Canada, where higher rents and slower visa processing are hitting lower-income Irish migrants.
Grants range from subsidising legal advice clinics in New York and Sydney to funding GAA clubs and Irish-assisted-living housing in London’s Cricklewood.
At the same time, navigating the visa hurdles that often drive demand for these welfare supports can be simplified by partnering with VisaHQ. The company’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers Irish citizens and their employers end-to-end application management, bulk processing options and real-time tracking, helping to mitigate the delays now straining budgets in cities like Sydney and Toronto.
![Government channels €16.4 million Emigrant Support funding to 530 groups worldwide]()
Another €4 million supports “returning Irish” services that help citizens validate foreign qualifications, access social housing lists and reintegrate into the domestic labour market—an area of growing interest as tech layoffs prompt some Irish professionals abroad to consider moving home.
Why it matters: Mobility teams often lean on ESP-funded centres for cultural-orientation sessions and emergency assistance when assignees face unexpected visa delays or health problems. The fresh funding should expand that safety net in 2026, particularly in second-tier Australian and Canadian cities where demand is rising fastest.
Corporate take-away: HR and relocation suppliers should map ESP grantees in key destinations and build referral links. Using community-based welfare services can cut settlement costs and improve duty-of-care metrics, especially for early-career staff posted on lower allowances.
The Department says application guidelines for the 2026 ESP round will be published in February, and it is consulting on digitising reporting requirements to reduce administrative burdens on small charities.
Details published on 24 December show that roughly one-third of the budget is earmarked for hardship grants in the UK, Australia, the US and Canada, where higher rents and slower visa processing are hitting lower-income Irish migrants.
Grants range from subsidising legal advice clinics in New York and Sydney to funding GAA clubs and Irish-assisted-living housing in London’s Cricklewood.
At the same time, navigating the visa hurdles that often drive demand for these welfare supports can be simplified by partnering with VisaHQ. The company’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers Irish citizens and their employers end-to-end application management, bulk processing options and real-time tracking, helping to mitigate the delays now straining budgets in cities like Sydney and Toronto.
Another €4 million supports “returning Irish” services that help citizens validate foreign qualifications, access social housing lists and reintegrate into the domestic labour market—an area of growing interest as tech layoffs prompt some Irish professionals abroad to consider moving home.
Why it matters: Mobility teams often lean on ESP-funded centres for cultural-orientation sessions and emergency assistance when assignees face unexpected visa delays or health problems. The fresh funding should expand that safety net in 2026, particularly in second-tier Australian and Canadian cities where demand is rising fastest.
Corporate take-away: HR and relocation suppliers should map ESP grantees in key destinations and build referral links. Using community-based welfare services can cut settlement costs and improve duty-of-care metrics, especially for early-career staff posted on lower allowances.
The Department says application guidelines for the 2026 ESP round will be published in February, and it is consulting on digitising reporting requirements to reduce administrative burdens on small charities.
