Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of Overseas Development Aid which is provided annually to the Democratic Republic of Congo; the mechanism of distribution; the projects funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25392/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where there are more than 1.7 million internally displaced persons as a result of conflict.

The Government's aid programme, operated by Irish Aid, does not have an annual budget for the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, because of the level of humanitarian need, our support in recent years for the people of the country has been substantial. All funding has been channelled through our established UN and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) partners. It is allocated on the basis of need to the agencies which are best placed to be effective.

In 2008, Ireland provided a total of almost €12.5 million in assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of this, some €8.5 million was allocated as emergency humanitarian aid through a range of established partners on the basis of need. These partners included the UN's Common Humanitarian Fund for the DRC, Concern, Trócaire, Oxfam, Christian Blind Mission and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The balance of €4 million was allocated to NGO partners for development and human rights activities. This funding was provided through a range of established mechanisms including Irish Aid's Multi Annual Programme Scheme, the Civil Society Fund, the Block Grants Scheme and through Misean Cara. The organisations funded through these schemes included Concern, Goal, Trócaire, a number of Missionary organisations, the International Rescue Committee and the Carter Centre.

The precise level of humanitarian funding in 2009 will depend to a great extent on developments in the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To date, €3,775,000 has been allocated, €3.5 million of which is being channelled through the UN's Common Humanitarian Fund, and €275,000 through the NGO, Médecins Sans Frontières. In addition, funding for development and human rights activities in 2009 is being channelled through the existing mechanisms for cooperation with our NGO partners. It is anticipated that it will be broadly in line with the pattern of funding in 2008.