Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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563. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Irish overseas development aid continues to meet the needs of those most seriously affected by deprivation and starvation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13905/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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568. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which his Department through the UN continues to influence matters in the various war-torn regions across the globe, with particular reference to the alleviation of hardship and hunger in the most obviously affected regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13910/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 568 together.

Ireland has been a long-standing champion of international efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition. During our term on the UN Security Council, Ireland consistently highlighted the links between conflict and hunger. We were a vocal and consistent advocate for action on the growing global hunger crisis. Last September Ireland called a UN Security Council meeting to discuss rising hunger in Yemen, South Sudan, Northern Ethiopia and North-East Nigeria.

In 2023 Ireland is continuing to highlight the plight of vulnerable populations affected by hunger and conflict, most notably women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities. We have taken on the important role of co-chair of the Group of Friends on Conflict and Hunger at the UN. This provides Ireland with a platform to inform and influence global action on hunger.

Through our international development programme, we have increased our humanitarian assistance worldwide, and strengthened our work to alleviate hunger and suffering in crises across the globe. In 2021 Ireland’s total humanitarian assistance reached €232 million. Last year, our swift humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis and to the impending famine in the Horn of Africa brought final figures for total humanitarian assistance in 2022 to over €275 million.

Ireland’s development aid targets countries affected by high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition and famine. In 2022 Ireland’s humanitarian assistance was firmly focused on areas where hunger was most severe, in Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen. Ireland’s support to the World Food Programme amounts to €25 million each year, providing life-saving food aid to the most vulnerable populations.

We have also maintained a strong focus on preventing hunger and developing sustainable food systems. At the December 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit, Ireland pledged to provide a total of €800 million over five years on nutrition and food security. At the UN last September, Ireland pledged an additional €50 million over three years to address the scandal of acute malnutrition among children.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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564. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which Irish overseas aid agencies continue to provide essential services such as safe running water on tap; the locations currently benefit such services through Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Our international development policy A Better Worldsets out Ireland’s overarching goal as reaching the furthest behind first- those in the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries or those living in conflict settings, with a particular emphasis on protecting women and girls and a particular focus on sub- Saharan Africa.

Ireland recognises the fundamental importance of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for the advancement of the health and well-being of all. We support Irish NGOs to work in partnership with local organisations to expand access to clean water globally. In Palestine, for instance, Ireland is supporting the construction of a solar power plant that provides clean and sustainable energy to increase the availability and quality of clean water in Gaza. Ireland has a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme since 2014 to support national and regional institutions to build their capacity for freshwater quality monitoring. The provision of water, sanitation and hygiene is consistently a top priority need in crises and emergencies. As a result, the agencies and organisations funded by Irish Aid allocate a significant amount or Ireland’s funding to such programming.

Through our mission network and global partners, Ireland takes a system-strengthening approach to expand the provision of essential government services, including health and education. Our support to education systems builds infrastructure and trains teachers to ensure that all children have access to their right to 12 years of inclusive and high-quality education, including in crisis or conflict-affected settings. Our support to health systems focuses on strengthening and addressing inequitable access to quality health services.

Children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those from marginalised communities face specific challenges in accessing essential services, particularly in emergencies, conflict and protracted crises. Ireland’s development cooperation takes a rights-based and universal approach to social protection, aiming to deepen coverage and extend the provision of inclusive social protection programmes.