Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 82 together.

The Government's partnership with development non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and missionaries represents a very important element of the development co-operation programme administered by Irish Aid. The OECD has confirmed that the proportion of funding channelled by Irish Aid through NGOs is higher than for any other international donor. This year alone, we will provide €135 million in assistance through NGOs and missionaries. I am making available in tabular form to Deputy Deasy the full information he has requested in relation to the past three years, but in this reply I am focusing on the most significant elements of the information requested.

In 2007, the top ten NGOs received total funding from Irish Aid of just over €105 million. The largest amounts were provided, in descending order, to Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, Goal, Misean Cara, Self Help International, World Vision, Oxfam, Christian Aid Ireland, Concern Universal and the Niall Mellon Township Trust. Funding amounts ranged from €29.5 million for Concern to €2.5 million for the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

In 2008, the top ten funding amounts were provided to 11 NGOs, which received total funding from Irish Aid of almost €120 million. Funding ranged from €33.1 million provided to Concern to €2.5 million each for Self Help International and the Niall Mellon Township Trust. The largest amounts were provided, in descending order, to Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, GOAL, Misean Cara, Christian Aid Ireland, Oxfam, Concern Universal, World Vision, Irish Fair Trade Network, the Niall Mellon Township Trust and Self Help International.

These figures represent the total amounts received by each NGO from all budget lines administered by Irish Aid under Vote 29 of the Department of Foreign Affairs. They include funding for long-term development programmes, for development education and, crucially, for emergency and relief operations. Comprehensive figures for 2009 are not yet available, as some disbursements are inevitably dependent on emergency and humanitarian situations which may develop. Based on grants provided to date, the top ten NGOs have received a total of €89.7 million in funding from Irish Aid. The amounts involved range from €23.8 million provided to Concern to €2.8 million for Self Help Africa.

The overall funding involves a total reduction of some €30 million on last year because of the difficult adjustments which were required to the aid budget. Irish Aid provides funding to the NGOs in a manner which allows them maximum autonomy in the management of funds against agreed objectives and audit reports. We are working with the NGOs to identify ways in which assistance can be delivered more efficiently in an environment of decreasing resources.

As Deputy Deasy will appreciate, I cannot give an undertaking in relation to the exact allocations in 2010 for each of the top ten NGOs in advance of the 2010 budget.

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