THE era of multi-million euro payments to support the Irish diaspora abroad may be cut short by the new programme of austerity.

Since 2004, the Irish Abroad Unit (IAU) has spent millions on everything from car-park repairs to Irish music lessons to help maintain the generational ripples of Irish emigration and help extend our small nation's global reach. But with all things financial now on the chopping board, there may be very little left for St Patrick's Day festivals, fleadh cheoils and Irish language lessons.

According to a breakdown of last year's contributions, a total of 194 social and cultural groups received more than €15m between them in grants.

The budget has already been slashed, but even this year has seen the state export €13m to care for and promote the diaspora. Much of the money is spent helping disenfranchised Irish through the care of organisations.

Financial support was focused mainly in the UK and the US, but reached 11 countries around the world including China and Zimbabwe.

In 2009, the government provided cheques worth €136,000 to support 14 foreign St Patrick's Day festivities. Money was also given to a knitting club; to a magazine; for preschool sessions; for anniversary celebrations for Irish organisations; to provide for Irish music lessons; and for festivals.

The Fáilte Care Corporation in New York was given €100,000 to install an elevator; the Irish Cultural & Learning Foundation in the US secured €333,000 for renovations on its cultural centre; €177,000 was given to Chicago's Gaelic Park for its facilities; and €168,000 was given to Kathleen Connolly House in Luton, in southern England.

The largest single recipient was the Irish Arts Centre in New York, which received €2.3m last December as the country was bracing itself for further economic misery and public spending cuts.

The Federation of Irish Societies in the UK received €659,000; the London Irish Centre €364,000 for welfare services; and the GAA in Ireland was given €274,000 for its games and community development programme in the UK.

The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) was established through the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004 and has seen its budget grow since then from €4m to €15m.

Significant amounts are spent on welfare and outreach programmes, disability assistance and social support networks for the elderly.

The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) benefited last year to the tune of €139,500; the small sum of €48,000 was given to the Irish Domestic Violence Outreach and Resettlement Service; the immigration reform lobby in the US got €33,000; and support was also lent to a psychotherapy project in the Brent Irish Advisory Service in England.

According to Fine Gael's spokesman on the diaspora, Paul Connaughton, "Heritage spending is a huge issue now. We are scouring the world now for the Irish diaspora, for the people who may be able to help us build a better Ireland and create jobs," he said.

"I would be anxious to ensure that the core funding for groups who look after the elderly and people who have fallen on hard times would continue. No matter what hard times we fall on, it's very important."