Irish Red Cross Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2017

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Questions (634)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

634. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with the Irish Red Cross in terms of funding operations domestically. [2670/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence provides an annual grant-in-aid to the Irish Red Cross Society. The grant in 2017 will be €869,000 of which €130,000 represents the Government’s annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The balance goes towards the salary and administration costs of running the headquarters of the Irish Red Cross Society. The grant does not contribute towards the funding of operational activity.

The annual grant is paid in quarterly instalments and by agreement, as a condition of payment, the Department of Defence receives a report from the Irish Red Cross providing full details of how the grant was utilised in the previous year and details of how it is to be used in the current year.