Roger T. Garland
Question:34 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it would be a worthwhile use of national lottery funds to assist in the relief work of the Kurds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Kurdish Relief Fund.
Although Third World-Disaster Relief Aid has in general been funded directly by the Exchequer, moneys from the national lottery fund were used in 1988 to assist flood victims in Sudan. This year having regard to the major demands made on our disaster relief fund it has been decided to allocate £600,000 from the national lottery fund to assist agencies working in Bangladesh and in Africa.
In making allocations for overseas aid the Government have to balance our international obligations with the needs of our own citizens. There are in Ireland many deserving organisations and worthwhile activities that are supported by national lottery funds for work in areas such as sport, the arts, community welfare and health. The Government are conscious of the need to ensure ongoing funding for these programmes.
Turning to the Kurds, I would say that while the question of assistance to a particular international crisis is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the first instance, I would remind the House that the Irish Government have already provided assistance to help alleviate the terrible suffering of the Kurdish people. Between the moneys paid through the European Communities and the funds channelled through the Irish Red Cross, the Government have given over £1.1 million towards this crisis and have also arranged for three relief flights to be provided free of charge to Iran and Turkey. There is, I feel, little more that we can do within the resources available to us.