Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree of success achieved to date in dealing with HIV and AIDS throughout the African continent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34845/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent information and statistics on the HIV/AIDS epidemic are contained in the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). 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. For example, in Kenya adult infection rates have decreased from a peak of 10% in the late 1990's to 7% in 2003; in Uganda from over 15% to 7% today and in Zimbabwe from 26% in 2002 to 21% in 2004.

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 more than tripled from 400,000 in 2003 to 1.3 million at the end of 2005. The greatest progress has been made in sub-Saharan Africa where the number on treatment reached 800 thousand.

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 has continued to increase in all regions of the world except the Caribbean. There were an additional five million new infections in 2005, the majority in women. The number of people living with HIV globally has reached its highest level with over 40 million people now infected. More than three million people died of AIDS related illnesses in 2005 including more than 500,000 children. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV.

In addition to a long term sustained attack on poverty, 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 needs to 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.

Ireland has a very strong commitment to addressing HIV/AIDS. This has been reaffirmed in the White Paper on Irish Aid. HIV/AIDS is a key priority for Irish Aid's policies and programmes. Following the commitment made by the Taoiseach in his speech to the United Nations in September 2005, funding for HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases has increased to €100 million in 2006.

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 coordination of resources and planning for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.