Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposals to develop the role and work of the Irish Aid volunteering section to harness the experience and qualifications of unemployed workers here by placing them in the different developing countries where Ireland has development co-operation programmes run directly or indirectly by his department, Irish Aid or Irish non-governmental organisations; his views on whether such a plan would help advance policy objectives and provide opportunities for people here who are currently unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42541/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The core objective of Ireland's aid programme is to contribute to the elimination of extreme poverty and hunger. The programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, is sharply focused on the least developed countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa. We have long term strategic programmes in nine priority countries, and also work in close cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations, the UN and other multilateral organisations. The Government recognises the important role volunteers can play in the development programme. The Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre in Dublin works to encourage and facilitate the strong public interest in global development, and in volunteering.

Over the past year, Irish Aid has worked to increase public awareness of all available overseas volunteering opportunities. Two successful volunteering fairs have been organised in the Volunteering and Information Centre this year, with up to 900 individuals attending. Over twenty overseas volunteering organisations, many of which are funded by Irish Aid, participated in the fairs in order to recruit professionals for particular assignments in developing countries. Irish Aid hopes to organise similar overseas volunteering fairs in Cork and Limerick early in 2010. The Volunteering and Information Centre has also facilitated more than 70 other events this year which focused on overseas volunteering.

In addition, Irish Aid is now in the final stages of recruiting sixteen young people for the 2010 United Nations Volunteers internship programme. Through this programme, 55 Irish interns have had the opportunity to work with the United Nations since 2006. Despite the current budgetary pressures, I believe it is important that we continue to fund this recruitment programme as part of the overall Irish contribution to development.

In recent months, I have ensured that Irish Aid has worked closely with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and other Departments to support volunteer placements in the domestic and international voluntary sector. While there are many opportunities for volunteers to engage with Non-Governmental Organisations in Ireland, the identification and placement of large numbers of people in appropriate overseas assignments is more challenging. Irish Aid is actively engaged with a range of volunteering organisations to identify placements which will promote development in the poorest countries and provide volunteers with an opportunity to make a real contribution in the fight against poverty and hunger.

The aid programme has also played a strong role in promoting the importance of health, safety and security issues across the volunteering sector. Through an agreed code of practice, volunteering organisations have agreed to address issues such as training and induction, cultural awareness, logistical support, transport and accommodation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. This reflects the importance of ensuring that all volunteering assignments are suited to an individual's capacity and experience and are of benefit to the host organisation and community in the developing world.

All aspects of the Government's aid programme are constantly under examination in order to ensure that they contribute to maximum effect to the fight against global poverty and hunger. I can assure the Deputy that any proposals in relation to the further development of volunteering opportunities overseas receive would receive detailed consideration on this basis.