Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs provides funding to a range of non-governmental organisations through a series of grant schemes dedicated to delivering on the Government's priorities at home and abroad. These include support for international development overseas, development education in Ireland, reconciliation on the island of Ireland, emigrant support and information on the European Union as well as responding to humanitarian emergencies and promoting international peace and stability.

Through the Government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, also known as Irish Aid, the Department provides funding to international development NGOs to implement programmes and projects in those countries which are classified by the OECD as eligible for official development assistance. The OECD has commended Ireland for the quality of our partnerships with international development NGOs. Our NGO partners are well placed to ensure aid reaches those to whom it is intended and are very well informed of the realities on the ground.

Each year my Department publishes an Annual Report on Ireland's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programme. That Annual Report includes information on expenditure across Government on international development. Approximately 60 percent of Ireland’s total ODA is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the balance administered by other Departments. The Annual Report provides statistical information collated in accordance with agreed OECD standards on programme expenditure which show the amounts given through the various channels and countries, the distribution of aid, and the amounts allocated to priority focus areas. This information includes grants made to NGOs in each year.

The Government of Ireland ODA Annual Report is a core accountability and transparency tool, providing a comprehensive tabulation and overview of expenditure under the aid programme, and demonstrating the results achieved.

The 2022 Irish Aid annual report is available here:assets.ireland.ie/documents/Government_of_Ireland_Official_Development_Assistance_Annual_Report_2022.pdf. The 2021 report is available here: www.irishaid.ie/media/irishaid/IrishAid_AR_2021_WEB_V5-FA.pdf. Information on 2023 grants will be published in the 2023 Irish Aid Annual Report later this year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has a number of funding schemes that support our other priorities at home and abroad. Information on these schemes and on the amounts of grants disbursed are available here: www.gov.ie/en/service/93163-department-of-foreign-affairs-funding/.

Some of these schemes will report later this year on expenditure.

In relation to funding disbursed under the Shared Island Civil Society Fund, information on expenditure is provided here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b66e8-tanaiste-announces-new-round-of-funding-for-cross-border-projects/.