Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in 2005 in the battle against AIDS in Africa; the targets achieved and identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39611/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent information and statistics on the HIV AIDS epidemic are contained in the annual report, AIDS Epidemic Update 2005, released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV AIDS, UNAIDS, and the World Health Organisation, WHO. This report noted progress in declining HIV infection rates in a number of countries and increasing access to HIV treatment.

Adult HIV infection rates have decreased in certain countries and changes in behaviour to prevent infection have played a key part in these declines. Kenya and some countries in the Caribbean region all show declines in HIV prevalence over the past few years, with overall adult infection rates decreasing in Kenya from a peak of 10% in the late 1990s to 7% in 2003.

The report also recognises that access to HIV treatment has improved markedly over the past two years, especially in developing countries. The number of people receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy, ART, for HIV AIDS has more than doubled from 400,000 in 2003 to approximately 1 million in 2005. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people receiving ART has tripled within a period of one year and now reaches approximately 500,000 people.

The reality, however, is that the AIDS epidemic continues to outstrip global and national efforts to contain it. The overall number of people living with HIV continued to increase in all regions of the world except the Caribbean. There were an additional 5 million new infections in 2005, the majority in women. The number of people living with HIV globally has reached its highest level with more than 40 million people now infected. More than three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2005 including more than 500,000 children.

A rapid increase in the scale and scope of HIV prevention programmes is urgently needed to stop the speed at which new infections are occurring. This must take place in the context of a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS which requires the simultaneous acceleration of treatment and prevention efforts with the ultimate goal of universal access to prevention, treatment and care. The latest UNAIDS estimates of the costs of a comprehensive response to HIV AIDS suggest that, in 2006, approximately $15 billion will be required in low and middle income countries, rising to just over $22 billion in 2008.

Ireland has a strong commitment to addressing HIV AIDS. It is a key priority for Development Cooperation Ireland's policies and programmes. In 2005, financial allocations to the fight against AIDS constituted 10% of the total overseas development budget and reached €50 million. These resources are directed at a number of HIV AIDS activities at global, regional, national and community levels and are implemented through international and regional organisations and in our programme countries. The latter includes six highly-affected countries in southern and eastern Africa.

The Taoiseach in his speech to the United Nations in September reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to combat HIV AIDS and announced a new initiative on HIV AIDS and other global communicable diseases. This will bring funding for these diseases up to €100 million. This new initiative will focus on tackling the major diseases affecting developing countries, including HIV AIDS. It will build on Ireland's existing support at international, regional and country level and will afford Ireland a stronger voice in international policy dialogue and advocacy for co-ordinated and effective action on HIV AIDS. The Taoiseach indicated that up to 20% of the additional funding will be targeted at interventions that benefit children.

Ireland will continue to work with the international community in advocating for a sustained and resourced global response to HIV AIDS, strengthened leadership at all levels and improved co-ordination of resources and planning for HIV AIDS prevention and control.