RCN Worldwide: Ireland

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Minister McEntee welcomes Budget 2027 funding for Irish Aid, market diversification and passport services

Irish Aid Budget to increase to €855 million, a €14 million increase on funding announced in Budget 2026;
€3 million in funding to support women and girls in Afghanistan;
Reconciliation Fund to increase to more than €11 million in 2027, including to support cross-community initiatives in Northern Ireland;
Increased allocation for Passport Service to meet expected growth in the volume of passport renewals next year;
Additional €1.25 million to support international market diversification and sports diplomacy;
Funding of €19.5 million for Emigrant Support Programme in 2027, the highest funding under the programme to date.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, and the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, have welcomed support for Ireland’s global engagement and Irish diaspora in Budget 2027.

In 2027, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to invest in

Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on the anniversary of the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks

Today marks three years since the horrific and indiscriminate terror attacks by Hamas and other groups on Israel on 7 October 2023.

We recall the horror and brutality of these shocking attacks and the unimaginable terror and panic that they inflicted.

Over a thousand people were massacred. The largest loss of life and the deadliest single day

Ministers Naughton and Murnane O’Connor encourage schools to take part in new Active School Flag ‘Run Around the EU’ Challenge

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor have encouraged all primary and special schools to take part in an exciting new Active School Flag three-week running challenge.

From September 28 to October 16, the ‘Run Around the EU’ challenge is asking pupils and

Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference 2026

1 October 2026, check against delivery

Good afternoon - it is a pleasure to address you all here at the Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference 2026.

I would like to start by thanking Pat Lardner for organising today’s event, which I understand will be his last Global Conference, after 14 years as CEO.

It’s fair to say that those 14 years have been a time of significant change, disruption and transformation, including for your sector, and navigating those many challenges as CEO is no small feat.

You have navigated it all with skill and grace, and I wish you the very best of luck in your

National Broadband Plan reaches major county completion milestones with October events

Completion milestones to be celebrated in four counties

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has today praised the progress of the National Broadband Plan, as October will see county completion milestones achieved in the counties of Roscommon, Wexford, Louth and Cavan. The rollout

Co funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union

A total of €2million available under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) from Ireland’s AMIF 2021-2027 National Programme.
Funding to help Third Country Nationals improve their English language skills, and support wider integration into Irish society.

The Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy today announced funding of up to €2 million for projects that aim to enhance the English language skills of people who have moved here as migrants. Funding is being made available under the Asylum, Migration and

Evaluation highlights impact of Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme, say Ministers Harkin and Lawless

Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills, Marian Harkin TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD have today published an evaluation of the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP).

The Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme is a pilot programme which

Minister Browne welcomes new energy supports for Dublin RAS scheme to reduce bills for tenants and encourage landlord participation

Supports aim to tackle fuel poverty and ease pressure on household budgets while making participation in social housing schemes more attractive

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has welcomed the new initiative announced by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment to support energy improvements in homes participating in the Dublin Rental Accommodation Scheme Pilot (RASP), alongside enhanced insulation supports for homes under RAS and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

The new SEAI supports could provide combined grants of up to €13,800 for an eligible

Minister Kevin “Boxer” Moran announces funding approval for Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection for Inver, Co. Donegal.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced the approval of Donegal County Council’s application for funding under the Office of Public Works’ Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under the scheme, the OPW has approved funding of €12,668 to construct a row of rock armour along the line of the existing gabions in order to protect these gabions from further damage.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

New Ambassadors present Credentials, 1 October 2026

Her Excellency Kairi Saar-Isop, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, Her Excellency Agnese Saliņa, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, and Her Excellency Inger Buxton, Ambassador of Sweden, presented their Letters of Credence to President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin today.

Her Excellency Kairi Saar-Isop, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, was accompanied