Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money that has been paid annually since 2002 to registered charities; if he will specify which charities, on the subject of institutional and religious abuse and the way the Government has monitored the spend of these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44524/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Within Vote 28 there are two main programmes that provide funding to organisations: the Emigrant Support Programme and Reconciliation and Anti Sectarianism Funds. While some of organisations funded under these programmes have been granted charitable status by the Revenue Commissioners, it is not possible in the time available to identify which organisations hold this status. In addition, in some instances funding is provided to organisations outside of the State where definitions of charitable status may differ.

Since 2004, total funding of some €80million has been granted through the Emigrant Support Programme to not-for-profit organisations which provide welfare, information and advisory services to Irish citizens living abroad, particularly those who are most vulnerable and marginalised, including the elderly. Whilst the Emigrant Support Programme does not provide direct support to services for victims of institutional and religious abuse, a number of organisations which receive funding for other elements of their activities through the Programme, do provide such services.

Since 1999, the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds have, between them, disbursed over €24 million to over 900 projects to assist organisations involved in reconciliation work and efforts to create better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain, and to assist local initiatives aimed at tackling sectarianism. No awards have been made under these funds towards direct support for the victims of institutional and religious abuse.

My Department has maintained a significant programme of overseas development aid for many years. In the current year, the Government has allocated €536 million for this programme from Vote 29. is funding is implemented through Partner Country Governments, Irish and International Non-Governmental and Missionary Organisations, United Nations Agencies and other International Development Organisations. Funding is provided for development programmes in areas of Health, Education, Hunger Eradication and Humanitarian Assistance in some of the world's poorest countries.

While upward of 25% of this funding is channelled to, and through, Irish and International Non-Governmental Organisations, Missionary Organisations and other Civil Society organisations in support of their development programmes, no awards have been made towards direct support for the victims of institutional and religious abuse.

Details of all expenditure under this programme are available in the Irish Aid Annual Report at www.irishaid.gov.ie .