Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of the overseas aid budget that was allocated to funding humanitarian and development aid in Zimbabwe each year in 2007 and 2008; the planned allocation of such funding in 2009; the areas affected by any reduction in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15931/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. Through the aid programme, we are providing significant assistance for humanitarian purposes and specifically for the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS. Irish Aid is working in partnership with Non-governmental Organisations, missionaries and international organisations in order to provide assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. Ireland does not provide funding to the Government of Zimbabwe.

In 2007, total funding allocated to Zimbabwe under the aid programme amounted to € 9.4 million. In 2008, total funding increased to some €11.4 million.

I am not in a position at this stage to specify the total amount of funding which will be allocated for Zimbabwe during 2009. However, so far this year the Government has provided €2.25 million in emergency and recovery funding in Zimbabwe, €1.8 million for the humanitarian operations of a number of Non-governmental Organisations, and a further €1.5 million to support HIV and AIDS programmes in the country.