Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:61 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political, education and development programmes being funded as part of the Government's overseas development programme. [15001/02]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
The Government's overseas development programme supports a wide range of programmes designed to alleviate poverty and to support the development of poorer countries. Total spending in 2001 was €320 million, including spending under my Department's Vote 39 – international co-operation – and amounts spent by other Departments such as Education and Science and Agriculture and Food. Political, education and development programmes, which are a high priority for Ireland Aid, are supported in a number of ways. These include support through multilateral organisations, principally the UN and EU, the co-financing of activities of NGOs and direct support to countries.
In 2001, the work of Ireland Aid was directed at the following sectors: governance and civil society, €35 million; education, €41.6 million; health, €31.6 million; agriculture and environment, €16.6 million; water and sanitation, €8.9 million; transport and roads, €6 million; emergency relief, €19.1 million; debt relief, €12.1 million; social services, € 5.1 million and €27 million was spent on other areas. I am arranging to send the Deputy a copy of the latest Ireland Aid annual report, which sets out in detail the various programmes funded under it, including the critical areas referred to in the Deputy's question.