Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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51. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the EU trust fund is addressing the root causes of migration in view of the fact Ireland has doubled its contributions. [53159/17]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa is to tackle the root causes of instability, forced displacement and irregular migration. The Trust Fund is assisting a band of countries across three regions in Africa that are among the most fragile and affected by migration, namely the Horn of Africa, the Sahel/Lake Chad region, and North Africa.

Almost €3.2 billion has been pledged by donors for the Trust Fund for the period 2016 to 2020, with 117 programmes across the three regions ongoing and total disbursements to date amounting to over €488 million. Ireland made an initial commitment of €3 million to the Trust Fund, earmarked for the Horn of Africa, and an additional €3 million was recently pledged in response to growing needs. Ireland’s total €6 million contribution covers the period 2016-20.

The Trust Fund is tackling the root causes of irregular migration and displacement in countries of origin, transit and destination through a range of interventions. First, employment opportunities are being created through economic programmes, especially for young people and women in local communities - with a focus on vocational training and the creation of small enterprises.

Secondly, basic services for local populations, such as in health and education, are being supported, in particular for the most vulnerable as well as refugees and displaced persons. Thirdly, better management of migration is being assisted so as to enable regions and countries to contain and prevent irregular migration, fight human trafficking, enable effective return and re-admission, and support international protection and asylum.

Finally, the Trust Fund is supporting improvements in overall governance, in particular by promoting conflict prevention, addressing human rights abuses, enforcing the rule of law, and countering radicalisation and extremism.

In all of these ways, the EU Trust Fund is delivering an integrated and co-ordinated approach in response to the diverse causes of irregular migration in Africa, and I am glad to note that the recent African Union – European Union Summit agreed to further cooperation in that regard.