Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to facilitate county councils to engage in long term sustainable development projects within developing countries, like the Ethiopian Partnership Programme in South Dublin County Council. [44815/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Government’s official programme of development assistance, Irish Aid, has as its overarching objectives poverty reduction and sustainable development. Africa remains the principal geographic focus for Irish Aid, containing as it does 34 of the world’s least developed countries. Seven of our nine priority countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa - Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi. In recent years Ireland and other donors have moved towards a programmatic approach to providing aid, aligned with the national planning of our partner countries. Priorities and strategies for engagement are based on the particular circumstances in each country.

Ethiopia is one of the nine priority countries for the Government’s development cooperation programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. A new Country Strategy for Ethiopia (2014-2018) is currently being prepared and will form the basis for future discussions on development with the Government of Ethiopia and other partners.

I recognise and welcome the valuable role local authorities in Ireland can play in sharing skills and knowledge with their counterparts in developing countries. The Ethiopian Partnership Programme with South Dublin County Council is a good example where successful engagement has produced positive results. My Department provided support to this programme which was completed in 2011. The question of any further support to this or similar projects could be considered in the context of the future programming arrangements agreed in the priority countries for the Government’s aid programme.