Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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102. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of aid that Ireland has provided to the Ukrainian Government; his plans to support the Ukrainian economy given the ongoing Russian invasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4431/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has been providing support to Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU budget. That support has been directed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine as well as supporting the Government and business sector in Ukraine. 

In terms of humanitarian assistance Ireland was among the first to respond to the crisis in Ukraine.  I announced a significant Irish Aid package on the first day of the invasion that subsequently increased to €20 million. This comprehensive package is funding both the UN Appeal, Red Cross movement and Irish based NGOs. From this package €1 million has been earmarked for UNHCR’s response to refugees in Poland and Moldova respectively. €2 million is supporting the response of Irish-based NGOs in partnership with local civil society while another €1.5 million was granted to UNFPA who are focusing on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including maternal and newborn health; and protection from gender-based violence, predominantly for women and girls and the most vulnerable. In addition, 5 members of the Rapid Response Register have deployed to support the efforts of UN agencies in neighbouring countries.

Ireland is also contributing approximately €77 million in military support for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.  In line with the Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution is directly solely towards non-lethal assistance and is used to help supply items such as medical equipment, food, personal protective equipment and fuel.

Ireland also contributes to the crisis in Ukraine through our core and flexible funding to key humanitarian partners and joint mechanisms such as WHO, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC, WFP and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). To date, the CERF has allocated €60 million to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Ireland is the 9th largest donor to the CERF this year.

In December my Department made a further contribution of €25 million to assist the Ukrainian Government and business sector.  

€20 million was provided to the World Bank Group for the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Co-financing of the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) in Ukraine. This funding will provide budget support to the Ukrainian government via an intermediary, which is best placed to provide the government with liquidity and to support continued spending on public services, such as pensions, social assistance, grants, payments to hospitals and clinics for health service delivery and wages to State Emergency Service staff. 

€4 million was provided to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Small Business Impact Fund. The EBRD established the Small Business Impact Fund (SBIF) to put the Bank’s partnerships with donors supporting SME-related activities on a more strategic footing. Ireland’s contribution will be allocated to SMEs in Ukraine who are playing an important role in maintaining economic activity under extraordinary circumstances. I was pleased that Ireland was able to respond to the request from Prime Minister Shmyhal for support for the SME sector which plays such a central in Ukraine’s economy.

€1 million was provided to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Ukraine Solidarity Fund. The Fund addresses social needs created by the war, such as emergency assistance, resettlement and integration of refugees and internally displaced persons. The announcement that Ireland would provide seed funding for the bank was made during our term as Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. In time, it is expected that the Fund will be used for the reconstruction of critical social infrastructure in Ukraine, including schools, housing and health facilities.