Ireland has unveiled its third Diaspora Strategy, introducing a new five-year plan designed to strengthen engagement with the estimated 70 million people of Irish heritage worldwide.
Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora Neale Richmond officially launched the strategy at Ireland House in New York on May 12, highlighting the continued importance of the United States as Ireland’s largest diaspora market.
The new roadmap will guide Ireland’s diaspora engagement policy through 2030 and is based on consultations conducted in 27 cities as well as feedback from more than 10,000 participants in the Global Irish Survey carried out in 2025.
Focus on mobility, consular services and return migration
The strategy includes several measures aimed at improving support for Irish citizens living abroad and those considering returning to Ireland.
Among the commitments are expanded pre-departure information services for emigrants, upgrades to the government’s “Returning to Ireland” portal and increased funding for welfare organizations assisting vulnerable Irish communities overseas.
The government also plans to establish a new Alumni & Mentoring Hub designed to connect Irish graduates abroad with multinational companies operating in Ireland.
From a mobility and workforce perspective, the strategy places particular emphasis on improving administrative processes tied to international relocation and employment.
Faster passport and documentation services planned
The document outlines plans to accelerate Foreign Birth Registration processing and improve passport renewal services for Irish citizens abroad.
The government also introduced a target turnaround time of 15 days for emergency travel documents, an issue frequently raised by employers managing international staff mobility.
In addition, Ireland’s Consular Assistance Charter will be revised this year to include service-level agreements for legalizations and posting attestations commonly required for overseas work assignments.
Skilled talent and business expansion initiatives
The strategy also aims to better align Ireland’s employment permit system with programs encouraging highly skilled diaspora members to return and work in sectors such as fintech and life sciences.
Enterprise Ireland will additionally launch pilot “Diaspora Landing Pad” hubs in Boston and Sydney, offering co-working space, networking support and visa guidance for Irish startups expanding internationally.
The Irish government has allocated €15 million for implementation in 2027, with annual funding expected to rise to €20 million by 2030.
Officials said progress will be monitored through a new public scorecard system designed to improve accountability and transparency throughout the strategy period.
