Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the overseas development assistance channelled through multinational and international organisations for the years 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007; the organisations, multinational and international that received funding; the amount of same; the locations where these organisations are based and their function or remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36016/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's overseas development assistance (ODA) is delivered through a wide range of development and humanitarian organisations, including non governmental organisations (NGOs), multilateral and other international organisations, and directly through our own programmes in our 9 Programme Countries. This mix and balance of delivery mechanisms is designed to maximise the impact of our assistance on the ground, in line with the priorities set out in the White Paper on Irish Aid published in 2006.

The multilateral component of Ireland's ODA is predominantly channelled through the United Nations (based largely in New York, Geneva and Vienna), the World Bank (based in Washington) and the European Development Fund (based in Brussels). A percentage of this multilateral ODA is also paid by other Departments such as the Department of Finance (which makes payments in support of the International Financial Institutions including debt relief); the Department of Agriculture and Food (which supports food relief through the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation) and the Department of Health and Children (which supports the World Health Organisation). Ireland is also credited with substantial amounts of the EU development cooperation budget.

Ireland's core multilateral ODA amounted to over €190 million in 2005 and €312.5 million in 2006. While precise figures are not yet available, a figure in the region of €200 million is expected for 2007.

It should be noted that while Irish Aid makes a number of core contributions to UN development bodies, we also support the UN to carry out aspects of our own bilateral programmes, particularly emergency humanitarian relief. For example in 2006 and 2007 we contributed €10 million and €20 million respectively to the Central Emergency Response Fund. The CERF was established, with Ireland's support, to enable humanitarian organisations to respond much more rapidly to sudden onset emergencies in order to save lives. Ireland also works with international organisations such as the Red Cross family in its humanitarian endeavours. The Red Cross received €5.6 million in 2005, €10.7 million in 2006 and €11.6 million in 2007.

The majority of Ireland's development contributions to the UN are concentrated on a small group of agencies whose policies and development priorities fit best with our own, which have the most robust management arrangements and which have monitoring and evaluation systems considered to be of the highest calibre. These are the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which plays a central role in coordinating the delivery of development aid on the ground, with a special focus on governance; the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The decision to designate these bodies as Priority Partners within the UN system followed a recommendation by a 2006 external review of Ireland's engagement with the UN Funds and Programmes.

Irish Aid makes smaller contributions to UNAIDS, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Health Organisation (WHO), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Volunteers and the Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Assessed contributions to the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Office for Migration (IOM), and the World Conservation Union are also made.

Irish Aid's support for the World Bank is also directed to a number of large global funds managed by the Bank, notably the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. This is one of the principal mechanisms for addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in a systematic and effective way. Smaller amounts are given in support of the International Finance Corporation, the branch of the World Bank Group devoted to strengthening the private sector in developing countries.

Irish Aid also funds a range of multilateral organisations under the general heading of Aid for Trade. These include the International Trade Centre and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The total amount of funding provided to assist the various trade capacity building and development projects in 2005 was approximately €1.4 million, with €3 million contributed in 2006 and €6 million in 2007.

A comprehensive list of Ireland's contributions to multilateral and international organisations for each year is outlined in the Irish Aid Annual Report, which is placed in the Dáil Library.