Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the €100 million to be spent by his Department in 2010 in tackling HIV and Aids and give a breakdown of the bilateral aid programme spending on AIDS/HIV by country; the intended purpose of the €13.9 million estimate in his Department's earmarked fund; the amount of expenditure targeted at AIDS/HIV comprised in funding of non governmental organisations including multi annual programme scheme funding; and the contributions to multi-lateral institutions. [15105/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing HIV and AIDS, which has destroyed the lives of millions of men, women and children, is of fundamental importance to the reduction of global poverty. AIDS remains a leading cause of death in many developing countries. Over 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV.

This year, under the aid programme managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Government will spend over €100 million in combating HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. Of this, over €42 million will be spent on HIV, AIDS and communicable diseases in those countries most affected by the pandemic. This includes some €14.8 million in Mozambique, €6.97 million in Tanzania, €6.4 million in Uganda, €3.95 million in Lesotho, €3.85 million in Ethiopia, €3.24 million in Zambia, €1.5 million in Zimbabwe and €1.4 million in South Africa. Our support assists National AIDS Councils, health ministries, non-government service providers and civil society in providing prevention, treatment, care and support programmes.

Ireland has a strong international reputation for our commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS and we play an active role in shaping international policy. Our particular focus is on protecting the interests of the worst affected countries and the most vulnerable populations. An estimated €9.2 million will also be provided this year to assist United Nations programmes in targeting AIDS and communicable diseases at national level.

The Government places a strong emphasis on ensuring that international best practice informs policy and programming, through our funding for key global partnerships and critical research areas. A total of €20.9 million will be allocated by Irish Aid to Global Health and AIDS initiatives this year. This includes support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, a partnership that has had an impressive impact on communities most severely affected. We will also continue to support a regional AIDS programme in southern Africa and the further development of new products to prevent HIV transmission. We will build on assistance provided to UNAIDS to improve the international response to AIDS in humanitarian settings.

This year over €24 million in funding will be provided through the Irish Aid programme to support the work of civil society partners in dealing with HIV, AIDS and communicable diseases. This includes an allocation of over €14 million to Irish non-governmental organisations through the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme. The valuable work of these organisations includes vital community-level support which complements other Irish Aid assistance.

We recognise that AIDS and communicable diseases have a particularly devastating impact in emergency and recovery situations. In 2010 an estimated €9 million will be spent on efforts to address these diseases in such settings. This will include support to frontline work in the fragile states of Sierra Leone and Liberia.