Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 April 2009
216 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department provides multi-annual funding to community or voluntary sector organisations; and if so, the organisations receiving this funding since 2006 to date in 2009. [14480/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of programmes operating in my Department provide funding to community and voluntary sector organisations: the Reconciliation Fund for North-South and Anglo-Irish Co-operation; the Emigrant Support Programme; the Communicating Europe Initiative and the Irish Aid programme, Ireland's programme of official development assistance. Funding under these programmes is provided on an annual basis, with the exception of the Irish Aid programme.
A significant part of the Irish Aid programme is provided on a multi-annual basis. International donors, including Ireland, are agreed that predictability of aid is vital if countries and organisations are to manage their development programmes effectively. In this context, Irish Aid provides multi-annual funding to a number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with a proven capacity to operate within a clear set of policies, an agreed budget and programme of work and a rigorous monitoring and reporting framework. Such funding is provided through a number of channels, including the Multi Annual Programme Scheme (MAPS), which has been internationally recognised for its innovative approach to sustainable development funding.
Five major Irish NGOs receive MAPS support from the Government: Concern, Trócaire, Goal, Christian Aid and Self Help Africa. Since 2006, over €259 million has been allocated to these organisations under MAPS. The funding supports the NGOs' work in food and livelihood security, rural economic development, health, education, gender equality and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Irish Aid Civil Society Fund, which is open to all Irish-based NGOs, is designed to provide resources for the development activities of civil society organisations. Multi-annual block grant funding arrangements have been in place for a number of years with Oxfam, Action Aid Ireland, World Vision Ireland and the Irish Fairtrade Network. During 2008, new block grant funding agreements were reached with 17 other NGOs, including Aidlink, Christian Blind Mission, Children in Crossfire, Frontline, Plan Ireland, Progression Ireland, SightSavers International, War on Want Northern Ireland, Vita and VSO Ireland.
Multi-annual funding is also provided to NGOs in Ireland's nine priority countries in the developing world, for work in sectors including education, health, rural development, food security, and human rights. Irish Aid also provides multi-annual funding to organisations in the development education sector in Ireland, through a Development Education Grants Funding Scheme. Full details of funding provided between 2006 and 2009 is available in the annual reports of Irish Aid, which can be accessed at:
http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/publications_report.asp
