Vol. 556 No. 4
140 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the projects Ireland Aid is carrying out in Lesotho; the funding being given to NGOs or other groups to carry out work in Lesotho; the budget available in 2002 and 2003; the applications for aid which are outstanding for this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20639/02]
Lesotho is one of six programme countries for Ireland Aid, the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The other five are Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. The greater part of the bilateral aid programme is concentrated on these six countries. In the case of each of them the scope and scale of Irish engagement is determined by a three-year strategy negotiated with the African partner government. In Lesotho's case a new strategy was negotiated with the Government earlier this year and covers Irish engagement for 2002, 2003 and 2004. The budget for 2002 is €10.040 million and the budget for 2003 will be finalised when the annual Estimates process is completed.
Ireland Aid follows a programme approach in Lesotho and the other programme countries in which government systems are used to deliver services and implement development strategies. We also, of course, strongly support the work of NGOs in that country. The focus of the programme in Lesotho is on good governance, HIV-AIDS, primary education, basic health care, rural access and the provision of accessible and clean water. On the promotion of good governance, Ireland Aid is assisting the Government of Lesotho with electoral and parliamentary reform, and with helping to build the administrative capacity of the judiciary, police and prison service. HIV-AIDS is a key focus of the Irish programme across all of the countries in which it is involved. In Lesotho, Ireland Aid is assisting in the co-ordination of central government policy and assisting with creating a sensitivity to the pandemic across all government policies.
On education, Ireland Aid is working with the Government in implementing one of the millennium development goals, the introduction of universal primary education, UPE. This was introduced three years ago and the Irish programme is assisting the government in the development of capacity as UPE works its way through the system – training teachers, building classrooms, providing textbooks, increasing the capability of the Ministry of Education, etc.
On health care, Ireland Aid is working with the Ministry of Health on building community-based healthcare and on developing the capacity to formulate policy and manage programmes.
Ireland Aid has a long history of working in remote areas of Lesotho on both the provision of safe and accessible water, which brings about significant improvements in the lifestyle of women and the health of children, and on building dirt roads and footbridges using local labour. This engagement is continuing apace.
141 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the projects Ireland Aid is carrying out in South Africa; the funding being given to NGOs or other groups to carry out work in South Africa; the budget available in 2002 and 2003; the applications for aid which are outstanding for this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20640/02]
In 1994 Ireland agreed to start a bilateral aid programme in South Africa for a transitional period of ten years with the specific aim of assisting those disadvantaged by apartheid. The focus of the programme was on encouraging support for the democratic transformation in South Africa and addressing the issue of deep poverty.
The review of the Irish programme completed earlier this year recommended a broadening and deepening of the Irish engagement in the country because of South Africa's pivotal importance to the development of the whole southern African region. As a result, the current three year strategy agreed with the South African Government, which guides the Ireland Aid engagement in the country for the period 2001 to 2003, will be reviewed early in 2003 when, in negotiation with the South African authorities, a newly focused plan will be developed to underpin a longer involvement. The current programme is focused on education, health, HIV-AIDS, water and sanitation, and the promotion of good governance, democracy and respect for human rights.
The focus of the education programme is in Limpopo – formerly Northern – Province where support has been provided since 1998 to teacher training and development. Ireland Aid is also involved in a programme of democracy and human rights training in schools. To address the major skills gap, support is given to disadvantaged students through a bursary programme. Health support is focused on Free State Province and involves the upgrading of clinics and the training of health workers.
142 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the projects Ireland Aid is carrying out in Tanzania; the funding being given to NGOs or any other groups to carry out work in Tanzania; the budget available in 2002 and 2003; the applications for aid which are outstanding for this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/02]
Tanzania is one of six programme countries for Ireland Aid, the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The other five are Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Ethiopia. The greater part of the bilateral aid programme is concentrated on these six countries. In the case of each of them the scope and scale of Irish engagement is determined by a three-year strategy negotiated with the African partner government. In Tanzania's case a new strategy was negotiated with the Government earlier this year and covers Irish engagement for 2002, 2003 and 2004. The allocation for 2002 is €19.559 million and the budget for 2003 will be finalised when the annual Estimates process is completed.
