Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:166 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the Government's intention to increase levels of support under the multilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26789/02]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:167 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposals to increase Ireland's contribution under the bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26790/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
The allocation to my Department's Vote for international co-operation will amount to €373 million in 2003, representing an increase of €33 million over 2002. This increase will enable us to strengthen further our support across the entire aid programme. Bilateral assistance under Vote 39 will amount to some €301 million in 2003 compared to €272 million this year. Most of this increase will arise under subhead B, the bilateral grant-in-aid, including significant increases in funding for NGOs, while there will also be sizeable increases in our support under subhead C for development programmes administered by missionaries. Multilateral assistance, subheads E and F of Vote 39, will also increase from an estimated €46 million in 2002 to some €50 million next year.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:168 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is intended to increase the level of humanitarian aid to the various eligible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26791/02]
Overseas development assistance is likely to be in the region of €450 million next year, compared to some €420 million in 2002. This increased allocation for next year will be the highest ever allocation in the history of the programme. Emergency and post emergency recovery operations will continue to receive significant funding from within the Ireland Aid budget. Emergency and related funding has been rapidly increasing in recent years and, owing to the current food crisis in Africa, these increases are likely to continue. To date this year, the Government has intervened to provide emergency and rehabilitation assistance on more than 134 occasions in 35 countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and Latin America and Eastern Europe. In particular, there has been a strong focus on the food security crisis currently devastating southern Africa and the Horn of Africa regions.
Ireland Aid delivered €9 million in emergency and humanitarian assistance for the affected countries in southern Africa and over €7 million for the Horn of Africa since the start of the crisis this year. Funding has been allocated to key international agencies such as the UN World Food Programme as well as Irish and international non-governmental organisations providing supplementary nutritional support. A high level of emergency and recovery assistance was also allocated to Afghanistan from the 2002 Ireland Aid budget –€8.6 million to date this year. This focus is likely to continue in 2003. In addition to the Government's emergency humanitarian assistance, Ireland Aid is also delivering long-term development support to these regions with an emphasis on poverty reduction through the provision of basic needs and capacity building support. In 2002 it is estimated that such support for southern Africa will exceed €80 million. Additional resources for humanitarian assistance will be available also through the new multi-annual programme scheme due to be launched by Ireland Aid in 2003. The scheme is an innovative mechanism for funding some of the major Irish development NGOs through three year joint programmes and is expected to provide greater flexibility for the NGOs as well as enhanced predictability. The scheme will support a wide range of rehabilitation and development activities including post-emergency rehabilitation programmes, food and livelihood security programmes and emergency preparedness activities in a wide range of countries. The Government will continue to address the great humanitarian need which exists throughout the developing world, both through the provision of increased resources and their innovative use.
Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 48.