Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional measures that will be supported by the increase in the overseas development aid budget this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66113/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2026 provided for an increase of €30 million in the international development programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The total allocation will be €840.3 million, the highest level ever since the establishment of the Irish Aid programme.

The additional €30 million will enable a further increase in Ireland's humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza and rest of the Occupied Territory. We will also place a stronger focus on the conflict in Sudan, which is the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world. This year, we have provided over €35 million in assistance to the people of Palestine, and this will be increased further in 2026. We have provided €14.3 million for the victims of the crisis in Sudan, both within the country and for those who have had to flee as refugees to neighbouring countries, and we will also scale up that support further. We will also continue to focus on crises in other countries which are not receiving the attention they require, including in Myanmar, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The budget increase will also enable us to strengthen our work on tackling the scandal of child malnutrition, and to enhance our focus on critical support, such as healthcare and education, that allows people to build better futures for themselves. We are making available additional funding to support maternal health, the global vaccine alliance GAVI, and the Global Fund for HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria.