Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community has managed to come to grips with the outbreak of Ebola in the various African states; the extent to which progress is recorded in the context of reduction in the number of cases reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3242/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is continuing to have a devastating impact on the worst-affected countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Through the work on the ground of our Embassy in Sierra Leone and our significant financial support, Ireland is playing a strong role in the international response. It is clear that progress is at last being made. Each of the three countries has now strengthened capacity to isolate and treat patients, and the incidence of cases is beginning to show signs of decline. Earlier this week, Mali was declared Ebola free after 42 days without any new cases being recorded.

While case incidence continues to fluctuate in Guinea, the authorities have recently reported the lowest weekly total of new confirmed cases in the country since mid-August. The numbers of new cases remain low in Liberia, and Sierra Leone has reported a decline in case incidence for the second week running.

This slow-down in the incidence of cases of Ebola in recent weeks is very welcome. However, the uneven geographical distribution of beds and cases, and the under-reporting of cases, means that in several areas not all cases are being isolated. There are also concerns that complacency could lead to a relapse as people are reportedly reverting to unsafe practices. It is therefore essential that the international community maintains its resolve to defeat the epidemic and not lose momentum.

The international response to the outbreak has improved steadily under UN coordination. The EU and its Member States have so far committed over €1.2 billion to the Ebola response. In 2014, Ireland provided over €18 million, directly and through NGOs, to the most affected countries. This included some €10 million through our annual development programmes in our partner countries – Sierra Leone and Liberia – which have a particular focus on strengthening the national health systems. We have provided over €5.6 million specifically for Ebola treatment facilities and for work on contact-tracing, community mobilisation and child nutrition programmes, among other activities.

Ireland will maintain a strong focus on tackling Ebola in 2015. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure that the spread of Ebola is arrested and lives saved. We will also turn our attention to combating the longer term effects of the crisis, especially in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and work with them on their road to recovery.