Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the planned official development assistance spending on tackling HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases in 2010; the comparable amount spent in 2009; the way any reduction in spending on tackling HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases will be accomplished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21033/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the international community is achieving progress in the fight against AIDS; if modern treatment is widely and readily available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21280/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 160 together.

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.

The Government has committed to expend €100 million each year on HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases. This year, under the aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Government will spend approximately €105 million in combating HIV and AIDS and communicable diseases, a reduction of €9 million in funding from 2009. The fact that we are expending a very significant amount of money, especially in the current economic environment, clearly illustrates the seriousness of our commitment to tackle HIV and AIDS and communicable diseases, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa where our programme is focussed.

Over €42 million will be spent on HIV, AIDS and communicable diseases through our development programmes in those countries most affected by the pandemic. This represents a €5 million reduction from last year's spend. Most of this reduction is as a result of a process of division of labour undertaken collectively by donors aimed at increasing effectiveness and impact of overall donor support. This joint exercise has resulted in us exiting gradually from the health sector in Zambia and Uganda where other donors are leading on health issues.

We place a strong emphasis on ensuring that international best practice informs policy and programming through our funding for key global partnerships and critical research areas, including the development of new products to prevent HIV transmission. A total of €21 million will be allocated to Global Health and AIDS initiatives this year. This includes support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. We will continue to support a regional AIDS programme in southern and eastern Africa, although overall expenditure to this programme will be reduced by about €1 million as contracts with some partner organisations are expiring. A review of this programme was undertaken recently and this review will inform our future programme in the region.

An estimated €9 million will be provided to assist United Nations programmes in targeting AIDS and communicable diseases at national level, representing a cut of about €1 million on last year's spend. It is anticipated that increased efficiencies in UN systems and programmes will absorb most of this reduction. We recognise that AIDS and communicable diseases have a particularly devastating impact in humanitarian 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.

There will be approximately €24 million allocated to support the work of civil society partners in dealing with HIV, AIDS and communicable diseases. The valuable work of these organisations includes vital community-level support which complements other Irish Aid assistance, and their dependence on Irish Aid funding has meant that their allocations have been relatively protected. Recent data from the UNAIDS World Report for 2008 demonstrates that both global HIV prevalence and death rates peaked in 2004, and are now declining. However, the number of people living with HIV continues to increase.

The UNAIDS Report describes a remarkable boost in delivery of important HIV and AIDS services and activities at global, regional and country levels. More than 4 million people are now on effective anti-retroviral treatment. This is an enormous achievement in a relatively short period of time and Ireland has played, and continues to play, an important role in this progress. Outstanding features of the increase in resources mobilised by the international community include the presence of private philanthropic donors and the unprecedented number of civil society groups that have become active in HIV and AIDS work. These groups have joined hands with their government counterparts and with international donors, including Ireland, to more effectively tackle HIV and AIDS through partnership.

Success in a number of African countries offers hope that, with international support, it will be possible to get ahead of this infection. In Mozambique for example, where Ireland partners effectively with the Clinton Foundation, over 173,000 people are now on HIV treatment, up from less than 2,000 people at the end of 2002. These gains represent major steps to overcome AIDS. However the disease continues to spread. For every two persons put on treatment five others become newly infected. There is a need to improve prevention and develop new prevention tools. The international community's response needs to be sustained while realigning to this reality and Ireland will continue to play a significant role both globally and at country level in this regard. My Department will ensure that Government support for actions to combat HIV, AIDS and communicable diseases will continue to prioritise those most affected by the pandemic.