Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the money given by Ireland, if any, in 2016 to support the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17391/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s programme of assistance to the Palestinian people supports our political objectives and reflects a longstanding commitment to the peaceful development of a viable, sovereign Palestinian State. Through the Irish Aid programme, we currently provide some €10 million annually in development and humanitarian assistance. This involves support to the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees and civil society organisations working to promote human rights. To date in 2016, I have approved funding totalling €6 million for the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. Ireland, like other EU Members States, is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority as part of our overall programme of support for the Palestinian people. This support which enables the Palestinian Authority to build its institutions and provide essential public services to its people is critical to laying the foundations for a future Palestinian State. Ireland’s funding to the Palestinian people has traditionally had a strong focus on the education sector which is crucial to Palestine’s long-term economic viability. I recently approved €1.5 million in support to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Development Strategic Plan, which will be channelled through a joint donor fund in the education sector.Ireland’s contribution will help support the Palestinian Authority in delivering its education services and ensuring improved access to and quality of education for Palestinian children.While we work to ensure that Palestinian institutions are ready for statehood, we continue to have to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. The humanitarian situation continues to be precarious as the key drivers of vulnerability remain in place. The protracted crisis is compounded by recurrent escalations in hostilities, such as the conflict in Gaza in 2014, which increase humanitarian needs.

Ireland has been a longstanding supporter of UNRWA’s vital work in delivering humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine refugees.During my visit to the Middle East last week, I announced funding of €4.5 million for UNRWA; €4 million for UNRWA’s General Fund to support the Agency in delivering core services, especially in education and health to some 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and €500,000 for UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal to help meet urgent humanitarian needs.

Ireland will continue to actively support the search for a lasting and peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the meantime, we will continue to offer the humanitarian support which is essential in addressing the ongoing basic and emergency needs of the Palestinian people.

My Department also contributed €58,000 this year supporting visits to Ireland by groups of Israelis and Palestinians who wish to share and draw from the experiences of participants in the Irish peace process. This is a developing area of support I hope to continue.