Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned at the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea; if Irish Aid has any plans to support a response to this outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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We are deeply concerned at the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea and the potential that this could become a regional epidemic. Since the official declaration last week by the Government of Guinea of the outbreak of haemorrhagic fever, better known as the Ebola virus, 122 people have been infected including 78 who have died. Four health care workers are among the victims. While the epidemic was initially limited to the south-eastern part of the country, Guinea's Ministry of Health has recently reported four confirmed cases in the capital, Conakry. Two confirmed deaths from the virus have been reported in Liberia and a further six cases are currently under investigation (including four deaths). There are six suspected cases (five reported deaths) in Sierra Leone.

Guinea's Ministry of Health, together with the World Health Organisation and other partners, have initiated measures to control the outbreak and prevent a further spread. The Ministry of Health has activated the national and district emergency management committees to coordinate the response. Multidisciplinary teams have been deployed to the field to actively search and manage cases, trace and follow-up contacts and sensitize communities on prevention and control. Since 2008, Ireland through the Irish Aid programme has provided €2.5 million in funding to UN agencies and NGOs working in Guinea. This funding includes €600,000 for disaster risk reduction projects with the aim of increasing community resilience to disease. In addition, longer term funding of €1.4 million has been provided for education and health related programmes.

Irish Aid is monitoring the situation closely, particularly given the threat of the regional spread of the virus including to Liberia and Ireland's key partner country, Sierra Leone. In this regard, we are receiving reports from our Mission in Freetown and are in close contact with our UN and NGO partners on the ground. To date, no request for financial assistance has been received.