Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation and enjoys consistently high levels of public and political support.

In 2011 Ireland provided €657 million to Official Development Assistance (ODA). This funding was directed to development programmes and to providing life saving emergency humanitarian assistance in over eighty of the world’s least developed countries. The majority of this assistance was delivered through trusted partners - the UN system, International Development Organisations and Non Governmental Organisations and Irish Missionary Organisations.

Ireland also has long term, strategic development partnership programmes with a small number of developing countries, called Programme Countries, namely; Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia in sub-Saharan Africa, and Timor Leste and Vietnam in Asia. Timor Leste will cease to be a Programme Country in 2013. In these countries we aim to build government capacities to deliver the essential services that their populations need – mainly in the areas of health, education and food security. We also work in cross cutting sectors such as governance, gender equality, the environment and HIV and Aids, building systems of accountability that will ensure lasting development results.

In Programme Countries, which are at the very core of our aid programme, Ireland seeks to shape and influence development in a way which will ensure that development assistance as a concept will be obsolete within a generation. We are witnessing human progress and growth rates in our Programme Countries and indeed in Africa, which would have been considered impossible only 10 years ago. There is, of course, much more to be achieved and there is still an enormous burden of poverty, but real and tangible progress is being made. Ireland has played it’s part in this positive change.

In 2011 Programme Countries received approximately €180 million of which two thirds was delivered through Government systems at national, regional and local level. Comprehensive details of how Ireland’s total ODA, including this funding, was spent is available in the Irish Aid Annual Report. I am making arrangements for the 2011 Report to be sent to the Deputy. For 2012 we have allocated €178 million to Programme Countries and most of this has been disbursed. The full details of all expenditure will be available in the 2012 Annual Report which will be published in the New Year.

The Government is proud of our aid programme and its achievements. We are determined to maintain and build on its high international reputation, and ensure it continues to build the foundation of real change, future prosperity and well being in the lives of many of the world’s poorest people.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is a central element in our foreign policy. The programme is recognised internationally for its high quality, its strong focus on the fight against poverty and hunger, and its concentration on the poorest countries and communities of sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2011, €657 million was provided by the Government in Official Development Assistance (ODA).Of this total, approximately €520 million, representing 79% of total ODA, was managed by my Department through Irish Aid. The remaining €137 million (including Ireland’s contribution to the EU development cooperation budget) was overseen by other Government Departments.

Irish Aid provides assistance to developing countries either directly through bilateral assistance, or indirectly, through multilateral organisations. Irish Aid delivers bilateral ODA through a variety of channels. These include working in cooperation with Governments, local authorities, local communities, Non Governmental Organisations and international organisations.

A key element of Ireland’s bilateral assistance is our support for long term strategic partnerships with selected countries to support programmes for reducing poverty and advancing national development. The Programme Countries benefiting from this support are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. The programme in Timor Leste will conclude in 2013.

When deciding the most appropriate delivery channel for particular aid interventions, Irish Aid takes into consideration the stability of the political environment, the reliability, accountability and transparency of government systems and the existence of effective and accountable locally-based and international Non Governmental Organisations. In 2011, €121.6 million (or 27% of bilateral ODA) was directed through Government systems in Programme Countries. The oversight, implementation and the impact of Irish Aid funded activities is closely supervised by staff based at our Embassies and offices. In addition, all proposals for Irish Aid funding in Programme Countries are rigorously appraised by Irish Aid staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as by the Programme Appraisal and Evaluation Group which includes external appraisal.

In 2011, €167 million (or 37% of bilateral ODA) was directed though Non Governmental Organisations including missionary organisations. Support was directed to these organisations following a full assessment of their capacity to manage and account for Irish Aid funds received and agreement about what results will be achieved as a result of this assistance.

The aid programme seeks to achieve a balance of delivery systems to ensure it remains effective. NGOs are supported because they work closely with local communities and groups. They also work closely with government systems in order to provide and supplement national services such as health, education and agricultural extension. Governments are supported because they have responsibility for implementing programmes and strengthening institutions that will have a lasting impact on reducing poverty. To achieve effective results in development it is important to work with NGOs, governments, local authorities and specialised organisations to bring about the lasting change necessary of development aid to become unnecessary. This is the outcome to which we are all working.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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In 2011, Ireland provided a total of €657 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA). Approximately €520 million was administered by my Department through Irish Aid with the balance consisting of ODA eligible contributions by other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU development cooperation budget.

The total of €657 million in 2011 includes approximately €81 million provided through various Emergency and Recovery funding channels. Irish Aid responded directly to emergency and humanitarian crisis situations throughout the world including Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Funding in excess of €20 million was provided through contributions to common humanitarian and pooled funds. This enabled us to provide a rapid response, through trusted and accountable implementing partners, to emergency and crisis situations in countries where there is no direct Irish Aid presence or where such agencies bring additional value and experience.

For 2012 the Government has allocated an estimated €639 million to Ireland’s ODA programme. My Department will administer €514 million of this total. It is anticipated that this allocation will be fully spent by the year end and that the funding provided for emergency and recovery assistance will be broadly in line with the 2011 level. However final figures will not be available until after the year end.

A detailed breakdown of Ireland’s ODA is published each year in the statistical annexes to the Irish Aid Annual Report. The annexes provide a comprehensive analysis of Ireland’s ODA, including the developing countries supported; the areas or sectors in which we engage, and the partner organisations implementing our development programmes. I am arranging for a copy of the most recent publication to be sent to the Deputy.