Overseas Development Aid.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2005

Tuesday, 1 March 2005

Ceisteanna (161)

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

218 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total amount spent in relation to moneys paid in overseas development aid in 2004; the percentage of this which was paid directly to each Government in these developing countries; the amount paid to each charity involved in overseas aid to help them to continue their work in these developing countries; the amount paid to other charities for development work; the amount funnelled through Irish missionaries and lay workers in developing countries; and the amount allocated for other projects in developing countries. [6509/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan)

The Government's national programme of assistance to developing countries comprises two elements. The major component is my Department's Vote for International Co-operation, Vote 29, while other elements of overseas development aid, ODA, are administered by other Departments.

Provisional figures for expenditure on ODA under Vote 29 in 2004 indicate that it amounted to €397 million. The 2004 outturn figures for other Departments are not yet available. However, based on previous years' returns, the total is expected to be approximately €75 million.

Of the expenditure under Vote 29, €341 million was spent on bilateral assistance and €56 million on multilateral assistance. Under the bilateral programme, €149 million was spent by our programme countries in Africa — Lesotho, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique and Ethiopia — and Timor Leste, of which €24 million was paid directly to Governments through various forms of assistance at budget level.

Approximately €60 million was paid to Irish non-governmental organisations, €3.5 million to missionaries and €15 million to others through personnel funding and the volunteer 21 scheme, a scheme designed to support voluntary work in developing countries. An estimated €50 million was spent on HIV and AIDS, of which €31 million was from the dedicated HIV and AIDS budget line and the remainder through our country programmes in Africa and funding to UN agencies under our multilateral programme. Other areas of expenditure on bilateral assistance included assistance to eastern Europe, emergency and recovery assistance and fellowships for students from developing countries.

Multilateral assistance comprised €40 million in voluntary contributions to UN development agencies and €16 million to the European Union, the bulk of which was our mandatory contribution to the European Development Fund. Precise figures for expenditure on ODA last year are in the process of being collated. They will be available later in the year, in the annual report. I will forward a copy to the Deputy as soon as it is published.