Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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445. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which bilateral and multilateral aid is currently being directed to the various locations in serious need at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23420/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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A Better World, Ireland's international development policy, focuses Irish Aid’s work on meeting the needs of the furthest behind first, with an emphasis on those in the world’s poorest or climate-exposed countries, especially women and girls.

The allocation to Official Development Assistance for 2022 is €1 billion, the highest ever and a 20% increase on last year’s allocation. This will allow Ireland to maintain its longstanding focus on meeting the needs of people furthest behind, such as those affected by food insecurity and conflict. Among the areas of focus this year are Ukraine, the Horn of Africa, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as countries in the Sahel.

Ensuring that our resources reach those in greatest need is central to our work and our ability to do so is well-recognised. In 2020, for example, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) highlighted Ireland as "an excellent humanitarian partner", with its funding models a "useful inspiration for other DAC donors", while respected international think-tank ODI found Ireland to be the most principled donor in its index.

Ireland's ODA is delivered through multilateral organisations such as the UN, funding to Irish civil society organisations, as well as bilateral ODA spent through Irish Embassies abroad. Our funding is complemented by Ireland's political and diplomatic engagement, including now as a member of the UN Security Council. These complementary channels ensure that Ireland’s ODA is directed to where it is needed most, in the most appropriate and effective way.