Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Ireland's overseas aid continues to be involved in various projects such as assisting with the provision of water supplies in countries affected by drought and lack of infrastructure for drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20148/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to what extent overseas aid remains engaged with organisations involved in the provision of basic services such as water and/or food supplies at various locations that are particularly affected in Africa and other locations across the globe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20149/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the bilateral aid programme continues to identify with and assist countries and communities that continue to be affected by various shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20150/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 to 160, inclusive, together.

A Better World, the Government's international development policy, focuses our international development programme on meeting the needs of the furthest behind first, with an emphasis on those in the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries, especially women and girls.

The Government has provided over €1.2 billion for Official Development Assistance in 2023, the highest ever allocation. This enables Ireland to build on our longstanding focus on meeting the needs of people furthest behind, such as those affected by food and nutrition insecurity, instability and conflict. Among the priority areas this year are the Horn of Africa, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, while strengthening our assistance to the people of Ukraine and its neighbours. The provision of water, sanitation and hygiene is consistently a top priority need in crises and emergencies. As a result, the response supported by Irish Aid ensures a significant amount of Ireland’s funding prioritises such programming.

Ireland's ODA is delivered through a number of partners best placed to respond worldwide. This includes multilateral organisations such as the UN, funding to Irish civil society organisations, as well as bilateral ODA through Irish Embassies abroad, with a strong focus on Africa. Our funding is complemented by Ireland's political and diplomatic engagement. These complementary channels ensure that Ireland’s ODA is directed to where it is needed most, in the most appropriate and effective way.

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 and providing access to education, aiming to deepen coverage and extend access to inclusive and targeted services.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the multi-lateral overseas aid programme continues to interact directly with communities most seriously affected by conditions such as war, hunger and drought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20151/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his Department continue to offer support and sustenance to those affected by war or famine globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community has made commitments and kept them in respect of various disaster areas throughout the globe; the actions in place to ensure an active and positive response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20158/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 168 together.

Conflict, climate change and the continuing impact of the pandemic have combined to increase the need for humanitarian assistance in crises across the globe. The international response increased to a record €26.85 billion in 2022. This support meant that over 216 million people across 69 countries received food, medicine and other life-saving assistance.

The commitments and contributions of the international community are guided by the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview, a summary of the most pressing crises across the globe. It is updated regularly to ensure that the humanitarian response is focused on the most severe crises and reaches the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls and people living with disabilities.

Ireland is playing our part in the global response, ranking among the top 20 humanitarian donors. In 2022 Ireland provided over €280 million in humanitarian assistance. Our assistance was focused on countries affected by war, famine and drought, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, the Sahel and Venezuela. Ireland also responds quickly to natural disasters, such as the volcanic eruption in Tonga, flooding in Pakistan, and recently the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria.

More than one third of Ireland's Official Development Assistance is provided to multilateral partners, notably the European Union, the World Bank and UN Agencies. These partnerships enable Ireland to reach conflict affected communities across the globe. The EU is the largest humanitarian donor and the World Bank is increasingly focused on the most fragile countries affected by conflict. UN agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF coordinate and deliver life saving assistance to millions of people suffering from drought and hunger.

Significant elements of Ireland’s ODA are delivered through other Government Departments. For example the the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides support to the UN World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. These UN agencies also provide vital emergency assistance to vulnerable communities across the globe.