John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the planned official development assistance spending in each of the nine programme countries in 2010; the amount spent in each of these countries in 2009; the way any reduction in spending in each of these countries will be accomplished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Through the overseas aid programme the Government provides assistance to over ninety countries worldwide. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries for Irish Aid, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

Irish Aid provided direct programme funding of €198 million to our nine Programme Countries in 2009. This year, €185 million is being provided. The breakdown by Programme Country is as follows: - In Ethiopia €27.84 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €26.05 million. - In Lesotho, €11.42 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €10.7 million. - In Malawi, €8.88 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €8.33 million. - In Mozambique, €40.5 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €37.5 million. - In Tanzania, €33.5 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget in 2010 is € 31.3 million. - In Timor Leste, €3.42 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 remains at this level. - In Uganda, €35.5 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €33.25 million. - In Vietnam, €13.75 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for this year is €12.75 million. - In Zambia, €23.21 million was provided in 2009. The programme budget for 2010 is €21.65 million.

The Government channels additional funding to the Programme Countries in response to emergencies and humanitarian disasters, as necessary. Significant funding is also provided each year for the activities and programmes of development Non-Governmental Organisations, and through contributions to UN and other international agencies. In the case of Timor Leste, additional funding is allocated for conflict resolution activities.

In deciding on the 2010 budget allocations to the Programme Countries we have in all cases ensured that the continuity of our programmes will be maintained. In some cases, funding timeframes have been extended and disbursement rates modified, but the planned final outputs will be delivered. We will ensure that our overall commitments to our nine Programme Countries are met.

I believe that the Irish people can be proud that, through Irish Aid, we are delivering an internationally-recognised aid programme which is sharply focused on the reduction of extreme poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries, especially in Africa. I can assure the House that the high standards achieved by the programme will be maintained in 2010 and subsequent years.