Nora Owen
Question:146 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to make any development aid available to Namibia during 1992; and, if so, the amounts of aid proposed.
Written Answers. - Aid to Namibia.
Ireland is sympathetic to the needs of Namibia and has in recent years provided assistance to it through the bilateral aid programme fellowship and NGO co-financing schemes as well as a special grant-in-aid in 1991 of £50,000 towards the costs of a teachers training college in Caprivi in the northern part of Namibia.
Namibia is not one of the four priority countries within the bilateral aid programme and due to budgetary constraints in 1992 it will not be possible to extend bilateral aid projects there. However, applications for assistance in the form of (i) co-financing arrangements with Irish NGOs, and (ii) fellowships, will be considered in 1992 on their merits and taking account of the resources available.
Ireland will, of course, also be contributing its share of European Community programmes for Namibia.