Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a cultural policy component to Irish Aid strategy. [30891/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Irish Aid underlines that culture can contribute to public awareness and understanding of complex development issues and plays an important role in building stronger public appreciation for the diversity of the partner countries and societies within which Irish Aid works.

Irish Aid strategies for improving the lives of people in developing countries are devised and delivered taking full account of local cultural factors. It is essential to have a thorough understanding and sensitivity to local traditions and customs in order to deliver effective development assistance. Moreover, activities such as theatre and art can and are harnessed in the development programme to help convey important messages, notably in the areas of HIV/AIDS and gender-related issues.

While support for explicitly cultural activities does not absorb the level of funds that go into other sectors, some support is provided directly. For instance, financial support is made available for events to mark Africa Day on 25 May to promote a more positive and comprehensive understanding of Africa in Ireland.

Irish Aid is concerned in its work to challenge negative images of Africa and to ensure that these are balanced by an understanding of the positives that Africa has to offer including in terms of history, culture and art. This diversity should be highlighted. In that respect development-related events with a cultural component will form an important part of the work of the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre which will open on O'Connell Street in Dublin early next year.