Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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54. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid funding his Department has provided to countries and territories (details supplied) since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2328/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. Our priorities are clearly laid out in the Government’s development policy, ‘One World One Future’. In line with our commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, our aid programme is sharply focused on delivering our goals of reducing poverty and hunger, promoting inclusive and sustainable growth and building more equitable and better systems of governance.

My Department provides development assistance to over eighty of the world’s least developed countries, supporting their development needs and responding to emergencies and protracted crises with humanitarian assistance. Sub-Saharan Africa is our priority region, where we direct assistance to the poorest communities, delivering real and sustainable improvements to the lives of some of the world poorest and most vulnerable people in the areas of basic health, education, agriculture, and food production.

We focus in particular on a small number of key bilateral countries where we have a resident embassy and a team of development specialist and advisors who manage and oversee those country aid programmes. Our engagement with our partner countries is at a strategic level, and we provide support for their long-term development. These countries are Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Vietnam. Smaller more focused programs are delivered in countries and territories such as Zimbabwe, South Africa, Liberia, Kenya and Palestine.

Ireland’s aid programme is delivered through a wide range of partners and channels, including partner government systems, Irish and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and missionary organisations, and UN and other multilateral agencies and organisations. We engage with UN and multilateral agencies whose core mission and objectives are closely aligned to Ireland’s aid priorities, allowing us to work with and support vulnerable communities across most developing countries.

The full list of ODA eligible countries is published annually by the OECD Development Assistance Committee and is available at the following link:

www.oecd.org/dac/stats/documentupload/DAC%20List%20of%20ODA%20Recipients%202014%20final.pdf

The total Bilateral ODA provided by my Department to each ODA eligible country requested by the Deputy for the period 2011 to 2016 is detailed in the following table. 2017 figures are currently being finalised and compiled. These totals do not include the imputed figure in respect of core support to UN agencies which is ultimately attributable to the respective ODA recipient country.

Bilateral ODA 2011 to 2016 inclusive