Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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394. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total contribution by Irish Aid to the Clinton Foundation, and in particular the health access initiative; if he will provide a breakdown on the source of this money; the Irish Government officials who are represented in the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. [19382/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Irish Aid money is paid directly through the Clinton Foundation to the health Ministries of Mozambique and Lesotho; and the projects these state Ministries implement, with finance from Irish Aid. [19383/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together.

Ireland’s Policy for International Development, One World, One Future,reiterates our longstanding commitment to strengthening health systems in developing countries, as a critical element in the fight against poverty. Our work in Irish Aid’s key partner countries includes support for the training of health workers to oversee and deliver quality basic services and to increase coverage to reach those most in need. Ireland has also made a strong impact in investing globally, regionally and at national level to help overcome HIV and AIDS and other pandemics including Malaria, Tuberculosis and Ebola.

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)has been a valued partner of Irish Aid in this work in two of our partner countries, Mozambique and Lesotho. The Initiative has also been instrumental in re-shaping international pharmaceutical markets to dramatically reduce the cost of life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and diagnostics.

Over the period 2003-2015, Irish Aid has provided a total of over €162 million for the fight against HIV and AIDS in Mozambique and Lesotho, most of it channelled directly through the Ministries of Health in both countries. In the past five years, in the framework of our cooperation with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, €68.2 million has been provided directly to the Ministries of Health in Mozambique and Lesotho and €1.8 million to the Clinton Health Access Initiative for the provision of technical support. As most funding is channelled directly to the two Health Ministries, Ireland is not represented on the boards of the Clinton Foundation or the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

Details of funding in the period 2011 to 2015 are set out in the following table.

As a result of this work, there has been a marked improvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Mozambique. Over 66,000 women are now being treated annually. Over 250,000 people in Mozambique are now receiving HIV treatment, up from less than 2,000 at the end of 2002.

In Lesotho, HIV counselling and testing services have been expanded to almost two-thirds of the population, compared to fewer than one-in-ten people in 2007. Irish Aid has also contributed to the improvement of the health of mothers, children and newborn babies in Lesotho through our support for health centres, the training of nurses and midwives and support for the use of routine vaccines.