Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of overseas development aid that has been allocated to the United Nations Population Fund for 2009; if the allocation includes UNFPA trust funds concerning female genital mutilation, maternal mortality and reproductive health commodity security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28288/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid outlines our commitment to addressing the specific health needs of women, as an essential element in Ireland's contribution to improving health and fighting poverty in developing countries. We work closely with a number of UN agencies to address maternal health issues, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Our partnership with the UNFPA is focused in particular on the reduction of maternal mortality, the fight against HIV and AIDS and the need to address gender inequality.

The reality is that, to date, progress in these areas has been limited. Every year some 500,000 women die and a further 10 million suffer from severe illnesses or disabilities as a result of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Underlying this tragedy is the lack of access by women in developing countries to good quality maternal and reproductive health, including family planning. In addition, it is estimated by the World Health Organisation that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of female genital mutilation.

The Government's aid programme, Irish Aid, currently supports the work of the UNFPA in these areas through a multi-annual framework agreement for the years 2008-2011. Under the agreement, €3 million is being provided in core funding to the UNFPA in 2009, bringing Ireland's overall contribution to the work of the Fund to €23.5 million since 2005. This includes contributions totalling €5 million for the UNFPA Trust Funds for Maternal Health and Global Reproductive Health Commodities Security, and for a joint programme with UNICEF on female genital mutilation.