John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action Irish Aid takes to secure affordable water supplies for African people to drink, wash and irrigate their crops in the context of the ongoing drought in Africa. [16758/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the context of the ongoing drought in Africa, the action Irish Aid takes to secure affordable water supplies for African people to drink, wash and irrigate their crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16114/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 282 together.

Securing access to safe water and sanitation in Africa is an important priority of Irish Aid, the Government's official programme of overseas development assistance.

Ireland has responded promptly to the emergency needs of some eleven million people at risk from the ongoing drought in the Horn of Africa. In 2006 to date, €7 million in funding has been allocated to NGOs and international organisations working to assist those who are suffering as a result of water shortages in that region. Funding provided will, inter alia, be used by our partners to provide emergency water supplies to affected populations while these extreme water shortages persist.

Food security difficulties, where water shortages are also a concern, persist elsewhere in Africa, such as Southern Africa and in the Sahel region of West Africa. Cyclical food security crises have caused considerable challenges across Africa during the past year. Irish Aid continues to provide emergency and recovery funding to respond to these situations. Some €27 million has been allocated in response to emergency needs in Africa already in 2006.

Climate change is likely to impact significantly on water resources in future years. Through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (NFCCC) Least Developed Countries' Fund, Ireland has helped finance the development of National Adaptation Plans of Action in all Least Developed Countries. This year, Irish Aid, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and Heritage and Local Government, has committed a total of €2.7 million to responding to the adverse effects of climate change in Africa.

In Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and South Africa, Irish Aid provides financial assistance of over €10 million, per annum, to the water and sanitation sector. This is targeted at rural areas where the population is more vulnerable to the effect of water shortages. In Zambia, we have worked with Government and other donors to update the legislation governing the management of water resources. In Mozambique, together with local governments and civil society organisations we are providing support to increase water supply coverage in the provinces of Niassa and Inhambane. Similar programmes are undertaken in Lesotho and in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Irish Aid makes a contribution of €400,000 per annum to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). These funds are used to develop water management practices that can be used by governments in Africa to manage water and land resources more effectively. IWMI, with the support of donors like Ireland, helps developing countries build their research capacities to secure sustainable and affordable water supplies.