Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which aid continues to be directed towards those for whom it was intended in all areas throughout the globe with particular reference to the continent of Africa. [25993/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will identify the most vulnerable locations globally to which aid continues to be directed; the success or otherwise of such operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25995/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 354 together.

I am deeply aware of the need to ensure that Ireland’s aid continues to target the most vulnerable and reaches those for whom it is intended, thereby making a real difference to the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.

The Government’s Policy for International Development, One World, One Future reflects this commitment to work in support of lasting benefits to those most in need across the globe. A strong focus on Sub-Sahara Africa continues to be central to Ireland’s aid programme. Successive Peer Reviews of our aid programme by the OECD, including the most recent in 2014, have highlighted Ireland’s efforts to benefit the poorest countries in the world.

Approximately 25% of Ireland’s official aid is spent on humanitarian response. In order to ensure that our humanitarian response is focused on areas of greatest need, we use a Country Categorisation of Needs method which ranks crises according to risk and needs. Category 1 countries are classed as those with greatest needs. All humanitarian funding decisions are informed by this method.

As an example of how we apply this tool, all countries in the Horn of Africa region currently fall within Categories 1 and 2 and as a result, Ireland provides substantial humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Assistance to the region has totaled €120 million in since 2012, including €17 million to date in 2017.

In addition, significant resources are committed to vulnerable and crisis affected communities in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Also to forgotten crises, such as in Chad, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are also prioritised for support.

High standards of accountability are continually maintained to ensure that aid reaches its intended beneficiaries. All funding proposals are rigorously appraised by officials from my Department against clear criteria, including effectiveness and efficiency, the capacity of implementing organisations to deliver results, and account for resources received. Programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular monitoring to ensure intended results are being achieved and resources have been used appropriately.

Robust accountability systems in partner countries are essential to ensuring that assistance is appropriately targeted to reach the poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries. Ireland also strongly supports the strengthening of these national systems in partner countries.

Full details of the distribution of our aid, and the results achieved, are published each year in our Annual Report. The latest Annual Report 2015 is available at www.irishaid.ie.