asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether any funds are being made available by his department to strengthen the Nicaraguan economy; if the report on immediate technical needs prepared by a visiting Irish group will be implemented; if he will accede to the Nicaraguan request that the Ambassador to Great Britain be primarily accredited to Ireland; and if Irish perspective on these matters differs from the attitude of Britain.
Written Answers. - Nicaraguan Economy.
36.
As Nicaragua is not one of the priority countries for the receipt of development assistance under our Bilateral Aid Programme such assistance as is given takes the form of funding support for the development projects of Irish nonGovernmental organisations which are active in Nicaragua and scholarships under the Bilateral Aid Fellowships Programme. About twenty-five thousand pounds (£25,000) was provided in 1986 and about eleven thousand five hundred pounds (£11,500) has been provided so far this year.
Nicaragua is the largest recipient of EC aid in Central America.
I assume that the report referred to in Deputy Higgins's question is that prepared by HEDCO (Higher Education for Development Co-operation), a body which promotes development assistance by Irish colleges of third-level education. Following a visit to Nicaragua by representatives of HEDCO in 1985 to assess how Irish colleges might assist universities there, two project proposals were submitted to my Department, both of which were approved and funded.
The position regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations with Nicaragua is as already set out in my reply of 24 March 1987 to a question from Deputy Higgins.
I am not aware of Britain's attitude to these matters.