Vol. 524 No. 3
4 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the report of the European Children's Trust that up to 50 million children in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union now live in poverty; and the steps he will take directly and through the European Union by way of a programme of development to help alleviate the problem. [22630/00]
I have not had the opportunity to review the report to which the Deputy refers, however I am aware of the media reports which surrounded this report's publication last week. Child poverty is an issue of particularly grave concern, not only in eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union, but throughout the world. The central foundation for the Government's programme of development co-operation, administered by my Department, is that of poverty alleviation and the most vulnerable section of any population subjected to pov erty are its children. Ireland's programme has traditionally been focused upon the least developed countries where the need is most acute and Ireland's contribution can best be focused.
Ireland's assistance to the newly independent countries of eastern Europe is mainly channelled through the EU PHARE and TACIS programmes. The focus on poverty reduction is also central to the European Union development model. In addition, my Department administers a modest eastern Europe budget which supports a trust fund at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a small number of bilateral projects in the countries of eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Furthermore, a significant proportion of the funds provided for technical assistance under the Irish World Bank consultancy trust fund has also been focused on the countries of the region. A major thrust for our assistance to this region has been to encourage and foster economic development and through this process better enable the economies of these countries to provide to a greater extent for their citizens' needs.
Support for the children of this region is also underlined by a number of contributions provided in recent years under my Department's NGO co-financing scheme. These funds have been provided to several orphanages, schools and kindergartens amounting to more than £195,000 since the beginning of 1999 throughout eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This assistance has gone towards improving the conditions experienced by the children concerned.
Ireland has also consistently contributed to emergency and rehabilitation situations that arise throughout this region as elsewhere. Most recently, almost £400,000 has been provided as assistance for Chechen internally displaced persons in Ingushetia and for relief assistance for the people of Tajikistan as a result of severe drought conditions.
As well as assistance to the region on a bilateral and EU basis, Ireland is a significant contributor to UNICEF, one of the most highly regarded UN development agencies. UNICEF is actively engaged in the areas of health and education of children and women throughout the entire world and has been a key recipient of Irish support for many years.
While the major thrust of Irish official development assistance will continue to be focused upon the least developed countries, we will not lose any opportunity to advocate measures which support the needs of children throughout the world, including eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Does the Minister accept the accuracy of this report and the fact that up to 50 million children in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are living in poverty and in conditions worse than those in the Third World? If so, what is he doing about it? If the report is accurate, it is a horrifying statistic which should be a wake up call and spur major action on the part of western Europe. Will the Minister take this issue seriously as an area in which we can make a contribution?
Do the ODA rules cover contributions from the ODA budget to eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union? This may be an issue in the context of the extra ODA funds which will come on stream. If not, we will have to find another route. There is a significant obligation on us to at least think of the children on our doorstep while protecting our other duties throughout the world.
There is a specific subhead under our development programme for assistance to eastern European countries and those of the former Soviet Union. Some of these countries are not capable of being backed and others are not regarded as the worst cases under the development programmes.
The review of the development programme which will take place on foot of the Government's decision to reach the UN target of 0.7% by 2007, and which will involve a quadrupling in volume terms of our development aid programme, will consider the whole question of to what extent we can further assist countries in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. These issues will be considered by the committee and recommendations will be considered in that context.
In terms of the EU Commissioner Mr. Patten's work and the question of assistance for the Balkans which is becoming a priority area of activity at EU level, it is clear that our bilateral programmes and what we contribute at EU level will filter through to the priority needs as identified by the relevant agencies.
Countries such as Georgia and Moldova have experienced catastrophic consequences as a result of the end of communism, leading to a significant reduction in standards of living. These countries have had to adjust to the market economy system the consequences of which are that the weakest, the poorest and the most vulnerable, particularly children, are, in many instances, malnourished. Will the Government give a firm commitment to tackle this issue to be best extent possible from the point of view of our own resources and through the EU?
