Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of assistance from Ireland to Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13485/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's budget for bilateral support to Ethiopia in 2005 is €30 million. This is a small increase on the funding of €29.3 million in 2004.

Ethiopia is one of the world's poorest countries. In terms of overall human development, Ethiopia is listed near the bottom of the league at 170 out of 177 countries. Life expectancy is 45.5 years, almost 60% of people are illiterate, two thirds of children do not attend school and per capita income stands at the abysmal figure of €100, close to the worst in the world. Its growing population, the limited amount of fertile land and susceptibility to climatic and economic shocks put the people of Ethiopia among the most vulnerable in the world. In 2005, Ireland's development support is linked more closely with Ethiopia's own poverty reduction strategy paper, PRSP. The PRSP is focused, inter alia, on enhanced economic growth, good governance and improved public sector performance.