asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of projects which will be funded by his Department in 1988 as part of the bilateral aid programme; the location for each project; the way in which expenditure on this programme compares with that in 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Question. Oral Answers. - Bilateral Aid Programme.
10.
Sixty projects will be funded under the bilateral aid programme in 1988.
The location of the projects is as follows:
|
Lesotho |
Sixteen (16) |
|
Tanzania |
Twelve (12) |
|
Zambia |
Sixteen (16) |
|
Sudan |
Five(5) |
|
Zimbabwe |
Five(5) |
|
Rwanda |
Two(2) |
|
Burundi |
One (1) |
|
Swaziland |
One (1) |
|
Jordan |
One (1) |
|
Uganda |
One (1) |
|
Sixty(60) |
The amount allocted for these projects in 1988 is £7.5 million compared with £10 million for 72 projects in 1987.
The allocations for a bilateral aid fund in 1987 and 1988 are £14 million and £10 million respectively. The balance of the allocation in each of these years, namely, £2.5 million in 1988 and £4 million in 1987, is allocated for non-project activities such as co-financing schemes with voluntary and multilateral organisations, development education, provision of fellowships and grants for research, organisations and courses concerned with development.
All commitments for 1988 under the bilateral aid programme will be met.
Is the Minister aware of the general public reaction to the 1988 expenditure provisions, particularly in relation to Sudan, Lesotho, Tanzania and Zambia, four of the poorest countries in the world? The reduction in aid from £14 million to £10 million in 1988 is regarded as one of the more shameful decisions by an Irish Government in relation to development aid.
All commitments in relation to the countries mentioned by the Deputy will be met in 1988.
Is there any prospect that the Minister might go back to the Government and point out that the reduction in the Estimates for this year is about 53 per cent, taking into account the mandatory United Nations and EC contributions? A reduction of 53 per cent in aid is of catastrophic proportions and——
The Deputy is imparting information rather than seeking it.
Will the Minister impress upon the Minister for Finance and his colleagues in Government that a reduction of that nature is catastrophic in terms of Irish development aid and that, whatever else we do in terms of public expenditure, we should not reduce that vital aid to people in the poorest of poor countries?
The reduction is bad enough without the Deputy exaggerating with his 53 per cent. That is the Estimate that has been prepared. That is the Estimate the Dáil will have the opportunity of passing when the Vote is taken. That unfortunately is the situation.
It is unfortunate.
Can the Minister give us some indication of the number of projects that have had to be discontinued as a consequence of the £4 million reduction in the bilateral aid fund? Would the Minister agree that our credibility and our reputation must surely have suffered as a consequence of a breach of contract of the many projects we had undertaken in the bilateral aid countries?
Apparently the Deputy was not listening to what I said.
I was listening.
I have stated quite categorically that all commitments for 1988 will be met, perhaps the Deputy might accept that.
How can the Minister inform this House that with a reduction of £4 million out of a previous budget of £14 million, all commitments will be honoured? He is not fooling me.
Perhaps the Deputy would listen again. All commitments for 1988 will be met. As the Deputy is well aware, many of these projects have been in train for a number of years. Many of them are finishing and quite a number of them will require less money next year than they required last year. That has been the normal procedure. Certainly new projects will not be undertaken but the existing commitments on projects in hand will be met.
My information is to the contrary.
On a previous occasion we sought to determine this matter. Does the Minister agree that the co-ordinating office we established for projects in Sudan and spent money on has been closed? Would he confirm specifically whether the projects in southern Tanzania, in Kilosa have been ended? Have his Department not been acquainted with the fact that the structure of the programmes in both countries is now regarded by all the relief organisations as being in danger?
Let me again say to the Deputy that the question of what will happen in Sudan is a matter for another question. This question deals with what I said, that five projects will be funded in Sudan in 1988. The issue of whether the office will remain open is a separate question.
Will the Minister of State agree that our contribution to aid is the lowest in the 12 EC countries as a percentage of GNP, that this is only the first time in 15 years, the second in total, that we are giving less than we gave in the previous year? Does he not consider it a shame, as I do, when he gets letters from aid workers, voluntary organisations and even from students expressing their concern that we should abandon the worst off people in the world?
The programme is not being abandoned. As soon as the economic situation in this country is——
I did not say the programme, I said the people.
The people are not being abandoned. Perhaps we should stop exaggerating and be factual; neither is the programme being abandoned.
It is.