Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africais an element of a comprehensive package of EU initiatives to support stability across the North, East (Horn of Africa) and West (Sahel / Lake Chad) African Regions, contributing to the tackling the root causes of instability, forced displacement and irregular migration. This Trust Fund was launched at the EU-Africa Summit on migration in Valletta, Malta, on 11-12 November 2015 and will operate until 2020. Almost €3.2 billion has been pledged for the Trust Fund by the EU and EU Member States.

At the time of its launch, Ireland made a commitment to provide a bilateral contribution of €3 million over the period covered by the Trust Fund, 2016 to 2020 (€600,000 per annum). This commitment is earmarked for the Horn of Africa region.

At the meeting of the European Council of 19-20 October 2017, and in response to a call by President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, for further pledges to meet pressing needs, the Taoiseach pledged additional bilateral Irish funding of €3 million by 2020, doubling Ireland’s total commitment to the Trust Fund.

To date, Ireland has provided €600,000 to the Trust Fund in 2016, €600,000 in early 2017, and a further €400,000 in December 2017 in line with the additional pledge. Ireland’s total bilateral contribution to the Trust Fund to date therefore stands at €1.6 million. A further €1 million will be provided in 2018, with the remaining balance of €3.4 million to be disbursed over 2019 and 2020.

Ireland also makes an assessed contribution, along with other EU Member States, to the European Development Fund (EDF) which in turn supports the Trust Fund (€2.29 billion pledged by EDF).

Incremental increases of the type set out in the Deputy’s question are not planned.