Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Work of Dóchas: Discussion

2:00 am

Ms Jane-Ann McKenna:

On the question about how funding is spent, from Irish Aid reports - the Department might be able to give more detailed figures - we know approximately 18% of the overseas development assistance budget is channelled through civil society organisations. That percentage declined slightly over the past number of years. Civil society organisations are one of the most effective ways to deliver to communities on the ground, particularly those further behind, which is part of Ireland's policy. We advocate for that percentage for all civil society in its broadest sense because it is the most effective. On Sudan, last year in particular the Government stepped up and put a focus on Sudan. We advocated for that and it is brilliant to see it in the programme for Government but there are other countries on which a spotlight must continue to be shone even when they go out of the news cycle. I will ask Mr. Clarken to comment on the other questions.