Written answers

Thursday, 14 July 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Aid

8:00 pm

Photo of Dominic HanniganDominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the grants available for the transportation of disused medical equipment to developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/11]

Photo of Dominic HanniganDominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any grants are available through North South reconciliation bodies for the transportation of disused medical equipment to developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20421/11]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.

The building of health services is an important element of the Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Our support is aimed at ensuring sustainable provision of essential basic care to those most in need. Irish Aid works with a range of partners, including the Health Ministries in our Programme Countries, non-governmental organisations, mission health services, regional initiatives, UN funds and agencies and global partnerships.

Ireland has considerable experience in health development work and, based on past lessons, our programming is carefully designed to strengthen the systems in developing countries. Irish Aid works to avoid parallel and fragmented services and to fit as closely as possible with local policies and conditions. This is the best possible approach in order to ensure that improvements in health services are sustained and maintained.

I welcome the interest in the transfer of medical equipment to developing countries. Any such initiatives, however, should be based on the provision of quality equipment which is compatible with local needs and conditions. This is particularly important when dealing with sophisticated medical equipment. The provision of any equipment should be in response to a clear and explicit need. Every effort ought to be made to check compatibility with local equipment specifications and environmental conditions, including electricity, water and room temperatures. The need for servicing and re-supply of parts within the budgets of responsible authorities must also be addressed.

Irish Aid has supported a number of small health projects based in Ireland which have included transportation of decommissioned equipment to developing countries, with a fully funded and guaranteed equipment maintenance plan. Experience has shown that the more successful of these projects are based on twining arrangements between facilities in Ireland and in the developing world.

There are no grants available either in the Irish Aid programme or through North-South reconciliation bodies specifically for the transportation of decommissioned medical equipment. However, through a programme of collaboration between Irish Aid and the Health Service Executive, work is underway to explore the establishment of a network of twining initiatives that may include transfer of useful equipment.

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