Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the criteria used to decide on the recent reductions in Irish Aid funding, for Irish non-governmental organisations; the criteria used in respect of the Irish Aid budget for the European Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11016/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the greater demands on the Irish Aid budget, for emergencies such as the Ebola crisis, the ongoing Syrian crisis and the growing number of natural disasters, is impacting on the level of funding made to Irish non-governmental organisations; if there is a specific arrangement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the provision of additional funding when such crises happen, and Irish Aid wish to assist in the international response to such humanitarian disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11017/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together.

Over the past four years, the Government has stabilised Ireland’s aid budget and, for this year, has provided a total of just over €600 million for Official Development Assistance (ODA). This represents the first small increase in overall ODA in six years. Of this, €476 million is administered under Vote 27 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which manages the Irish Aid programme. In deciding on the allocation of the budget, some small reductions were necessary across budget lines, because of prioritisation of commitments, the scale of humanitarian crises across the world and the rise in Ireland’s assessed contribution to the European Development Fund (EDF). These are all areas which are funded annually under Vote 27 in line with standard budgetary procedures.

European Union Member States’ contributions to the EDF are on an assessed basis. Ireland’s contribution key under the 11th EDF is set at 0.94% of the total funds comprising the EDF, and accordingly we will make a total contribution of €32.76 million to the Fund in 2015, an increase of some €9 million on our contribution in 2014. Decisions on the allocation of EDF funds are made by an EDF Committee of representatives of all EU Member States, including Ireland.

Ireland is recognised internationally for its support for the NGO sector, and consistently channels the largest proportion of our ODA through NGOs of any major donor. Around one third of the Irish Aid budget is channelled through NGOs, for humanitarian and development programs and projects. The Programme Grant scheme for our largest NGO partners constitutes is the main individual funding stream, which supports long term development work. The budget for the Programme Grant is €61.34 million in 2015, a reduction of 2.28% on 2014. This is in line with budgetary reductions across the Irish Aid programme, including in our key partner countries.

The past year has witnessed a serious deterioration in the global humanitarian situation, as a result of conflicts in the Middle East and Africa and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The needs are set to increase in 2015, with the situation becoming more complex and posing different demands.

Included in Ireland’s overall ODA budget is a specific provision to enable Irish Aid to respond to emergencies and natural disasters when they arise. We have increased this dedicated Emergency Humanitarian Assistance budget line from €57.5 million in 2014 to €58.5 million in 2015. In addition, last year, there was an increase in the humanitarian funding made available by Irish Aid to Irish NGOs from €16 million in 2013 to €23 million in 2014. We provide humanitarian funding to trusted NGO partners here in Ireland, as well as to key UN partners and the Red Cross/Red Crescent, agencies capable of delivering assistance to large numbers of beneficiaries. We will continue to work with and support these trusted partners throughout 2015.

Ireland’s overseas development programme has benefited significantly from our NGO partners’ commitment to helping poor and vulnerable communities. The OECD Development Assistance Committee’s positive peer review of the effectiveness of the programme last year gave strong recognition to Ireland’s NGO partnerships. The peer review also recognised the Government’s strategic management of the aid budget during challenging economic times.