Vol. 407 No. 3
78 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of official aid given by the Government to relieve the plight of the Kurds, specifying the amount being paid as Ireland's contribution towards the 50 million ECUs being raised by the EC from member states; and the amounts paid to national organisations.
At the European Council on 8 April it was agreed that the Community and its member states would provide 150 million ECUs as a contribution to international relief efforts. Of the total, 100 million ECUs would be provided through the Community budget and 50 million ECUs directly by member states. The Commission will co-ordinate the member states direct contributions but it was not decided that these funds should be channelled through the Community.
Ireland's contribution to the total 150 million ECUs is approximately £1 million, as announced by the Taoiseach on 8 April. However, in the light of the scale of the crisis and the continuing need for aid, the Government are providing £1.235 million which is significantly in excess of this. They have also arranged for some civilian aircraft to be provided free of charge by the operators for the delivery of supplies to the affected areas.
Our share of the European Community budget contribution is £685,000 and the balance of £550,000, which is being provided bilaterally, is made up as follows: £200,000, Irish Red Cross: relief supplies for refugees in Iran; £100,000, Trócaire: relief supplies for refugees in Iran; £150,000, United Nations High Commissioner for refugees: relief operations for the refugees generally; £100,000, CONCERN: relief supplies for refugees in Turkey.
