Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 10: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding projects funded by Ireland or the European Union as are under way in Gaza; the position regarding such projects if any; and the projected dates of their completion. [33497/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The core objective of Irish assistance to Palestine is to alleviate the material consequences of the ongoing conflict, by enhancing the capacity of Ireland's partners in Palestine, particularly the Palestinian Authority, to respond to the crisis and to begin, where possible, to meet the future development needs of the Palestinian people.

By the end of 2005, it is estimated that Ireland will have delivered over €4 million in development and humanitarian assistance to Palestine. This assistance covers all of the Palestinian Territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. This funding focuses on support to basic education, local government, civil society and the United Nations' agencies.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, is a key partner for Ireland in the provision of basic services to the Palestinian people. In 2004, UNRWA received €2 million in funding from Ireland, of which €500,000 was ring-fenced for Rafah in Gaza. This year Ireland will provide a further €2 million in funding to UNRWA, €500,000 of which I have ear-marked for Gaza.

Ireland also provides funding for projects in Gaza through the human rights and democratisation scheme. This year I allocated €100,000 to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, PCHR, a Gaza city-based organisation which we have supported for the past number of years. The centre works to protect human rights and promote the rule of law, to create and develop democratic institutions and an active civil society.

Funding of €50,000 was also provided to the Palestinian Association for Education and Environmental Protection to run a summer school for young people from Gaza in non-violence, conflict resolution, democracy and leadership skills.

At an EU level, under the emergency municipalities support programme, the European Commission committed €30 million in support of Gaza and the West Bank for institution and capacity building for programmes in the health sector. The European Commission has now committed new funding of €40 million specifically to Gaza for an infrastructural financial facility aimed at developing infrastructure in Gaza. The facility is being co-ordinated with the Palestinian Authority and other donors and a number of projects relating to customs, transport, water and energy supply have already been identified.