Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countires to which Ireland contributes by way of development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3911/18]

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’s 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 specialists 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.

My Department reports annually on its development activities through the Irish Aid Annual Report, the most recent of which is for 2016 and the table below sets out the top thirty countries in receipt of bilateral assistance. This is not an exhaustive list as funding is also made to a number of countries through multilaterals sources.

The full Irish Aid Annual Report for 2016 is available through this link:www.irishaid.ie/news-publications/publications/publicationsarchive/2017/september/irish-aid-annual-report-2016/.

Top 30 Recipient Countries of Ireland's Bilateral ODA 2016**

**This annex gives a breakdown of aid by the country to which it was allocated. In the case of countries with major humanitarian crises, it should be noted that funding may be allocated to neighbouring countries or on a non-country specific basis.