Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 5

Written Answers. - APSO Placements.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

51 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of placements, if any, expected to be made by APSO in developing countries during 1995; the proposals, if any, he has for an expansion of APSO's activities in view of the commitment given in the programme for A Government of Renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6823/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

APSO's target is to achieve 1,250 placements in 1995. This is in line with the Government's commitment to bring about a significant increase in the number of skilled Irish people working in developing countries.

APSO estimates that about 1,040 of these placements will be long term development workers on assignments of a year or more. The remaining 200 or so assignees will be on assignments of less than a year, most of them in the field of emergency humanitarian work with Irish NGOs, missionary orders, and international agencies. APSO also expects to place 70 people in the category of senior service overseas or consultants, and some 20 as election monitors taking part in the Government's programme of support for democratisation in the Third World.

APSO is funded from the Government's programme of Official Development Assistance, Irish Aid. As stated in the programme forA Government of Renewal, the expansion of APSO's activities will be based on an assessment of the needs and resources of the developing world. While it is important that APSO should make every effort to maximise and encourage service by skilled Irish people in developing countries, the quality of service, rather than overall numbers, must remain its paramount concern. The Government will continue to monitor APSO's activities to ensure that the technical assistance which APSO offers on behalf of Irish Aid will always be of a kind which will promote sustainable development, stimulate linkages with and training of local people and strengthen local human and institutional capacities.