Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of humanitarian aid allocated to the Palestinian people each year in 2007 and 2008; the planned allocation of such funding in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15929/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's assistance to the Palestinian people addresses both humanitarian and development needs, recognising the importance of providing emergency assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority in public service delivery as well as civil society organisations in advocating for human rights.

In 2007, total Irish Aid assistance to the Palestinian people amounted to just over €7.5 million. More than half of this total was provided to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is responsible for the delivery of humanitarian aid and basic services to Palestinian refugees who account for 40% of the total population of the Palestinian Territories. Support was also provided, inter alia, for payment of public service salaries to employees of the Palestinian Authority through a mechanism administered by the European Commission; for a rural development programme run by the UN; and to a range of civil society organisations for human rights and democratisation initiatives.

In 2008, Irish Aid funding to the Palestinian people increased to over €8.6 million. While UNRWA remained a major partner, a significant level of funding was also provided to the Palestinian Authority, through a European Commission administered mechanism, to support payment of public service salaries and to buy urgently-needed fuel for Gaza's power plant.

During the first four months of 2009, more than €6.2 million in assistance for the Palestinian people has already been disbursed or allocated. This includes €3.8 million in core funding to UNRWA, as well as an emergency contribution of €1 million to support the agency's response to the crisis in Gaza. A further €500,000 was provided for emergency response projects in Gaza through a Humanitarian Response Fund managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Meanwhile, over €800,000 in Irish Aid funding allocated to non-governmental Organisation (NGO) partners during 2009 has been designated for programmes in the Palestinian Territories.

Further funding allocations to the Palestinian people for 2009 will be determined as the year progresses and will be informed, inter alia, by an Irish Aid programming visit scheduled for later this year.