Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of all overseas development aid projects sponsored or supported by his Department that have been co-funded in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development in each year from 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4941/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to protect the interests of Irish charities and NGOs and their beneficiaries which may be adversely affected by the recent decision by the US president to shut down USAID. [4943/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.

The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and to reaching the furthest behind first.

Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global and country programmes that support sustainable development and humanitarian response, and we hope to continue this engagement.

Since the announcement by Executive Order of the 90 day pause for all US foreign assistance programmes, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been following closely the continuing reports and announcements in relation to USAID. While the situation is still evolving, we are very aware of the potential impact of the pause on development programmes and humanitarian relief efforts. We understand that waivers are being considered on a case by case basis with regard to “life-saving activities” and we await the conclusion of the announced US spending review.

We will continue to work closely with international partners, multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and civil society organisations, and through the European Union in our collective effort to overcome global poverty and inequality and to advance sustainable development.

We are fully committed to our programme of work with Irish NGOs and their local partners. We are already working with our partners to ensure that the implications of any funding cuts are managed as well as possible. It would not be viable for Ireland’s funding to substitute for future shortfalls in US funds. However, we will continue to provide support that is both predictable and flexible, thereby enabling partners to adapt as well as possible to rapidly changing contexts.

Since 2023, Ireland has been collaborating with USAID on a joint programme in Malawi, focused on food systems transformation and crop diversification. With the implementing partners of this programme, we will work to ensure that planned and Irish-funded activities on climate-resilient agriculture and crop development can continue without disruption.

In 2024 the then Tánaiste, and the head of USAID, announced plans for a joint programme of work in Zambia, focused on sustainable food systems and nutrition. The joint programme is still under design, but in the meantime, our Embassy in Zambia has strengthened its work on youth and women’s empowerment, food security and nutrition in conjunction with the Zambian Government, USAID and other partners.

In all countries where Ireland provides international development assistance, we will remain in close contact with the governments and partners on development and humanitarian challenges and our collective response.