Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 393: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress of Development Co-operation Ireland on their various programmes across the world; the priority projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32970/06]

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

In September 2005, speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Taoiseach committed Ireland to reaching the UN target of 0.7% of GNP on Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries by 2012. This commitment means that the Government will spend approximately €1.5 billion on ODA annually by that year. The total aid budget for 2006 is €734 million.

On 18 September 2006, the Government launched Ireland's first ever White Paper on Irish Aid, which sets out a clear blueprint for future expansion as the budget grows rapidly. The White Paper has been distributed widely, including to all Oireachtas members. The White Paper has been warmly welcomed by political parties, NGOs, missionaries and by the media.

The Irish Aid programme works in over ninety countries around the world and has a particular focus on Africa, where approximately 80% of Irish assistance is focused.

Every day, Irish Aid saves lives. Beyond that, every day Irish Aid works to equip people to improve their own lives – working through our partner countries to build better governments and better functioning societies. Irish Aid works with international development agencies and Irish NGOs in their efforts to tackle poverty and make a real difference on the ground, and Ireland works as an advocate on the world stage to ensure that voices of the poorer countries are heard and heeded.

Irish Aid is having a definite, positive and sustaining impact in the areas where we work. The following are some examples of important work of Irish Aid in Africa:

In Lesotho in 1999, enrolment in primary schools was at 57%. With Ireland's support, by 2003, this figure had increased to 82%.

In Ethiopia, through our Safety Nets Programme, Irish Aid is keeping hunger at bay for more than 6 million Ethiopians every year.

With Ireland's support, immunisation rates against childhood diseases in Uganda are now at 84% for the entire country.

In Zambia, Irish Aid has financed a programme of well and bore hole drilling in the Northern Province, which now provides a sustainable source of fresh, clean water to approximately 113,000 people.

Over the past three years as part of our contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS, we have worked in close partnership with the Clinton Foundation. In Mozambique, the partnership has to date ensured that 20,000 people are now on anti-retroviral treatment, 83 clinics have been built to provide services to combat mother-to-child transmission and over 250,000 people are receiving testing and counselling services.

These are just some of the achievements of the Irish Aid programme over recent years. Irish Aid will continue to provide assistance to the poorest people in some of the poorest countries in the world on behalf of the Irish people.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 394: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the projects being undertaken in India by Development Co-Operation Ireland; the level of assistance given to date; the additional supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32971/06]

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

Irish Aid provides funding for development work in India, through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS).

In 2005, over €5.1 million was provided to NGOs for development projects and emergency and humanitarian relief work in India. The funding was largely directed to three Irish NGOs, namely, Concern, Goal and Trócaire, which accounted for just over €2.9 million. The remainder was delivered via a wide range of local and international partners.

Irish Aid also provides funding annually to the IMRS, which in turn administers project and personnel funding schemes for missionaries worldwide. The IMRS allocated approximately €85,000 for development work in India in 2005.