The overarching goal of the Government's aid programme, administered by Irish Aid, is the reduction and eventual eradication of global poverty and hunger. Our partnership with development Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and missionaries represents a very important element of this effort, reflecting the broad support among Irish people for the development programme. The Irish aid programme is one of the strongest supporters of the non-governmental sector internationally.
Irish Aid engages with development NGOs through the innovative Multi-Annual Programme Scheme, the Civil Society Fund and a number of Emergency funding schemes. It provides significant additional funding to NGOs under the development programmes in the nine priority countries for Irish Aid, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. Irish Aid also cooperates closely with Misean Cara, representing the range of Irish missionaries working with the poor in the developing world.
Last year, the total funding provided by the Government, through Irish Aid, to development NGOs and missionaries amounted to just over €200 million. In 2007, we provided over €180 million. This funding supported the work of NGOs in livelihood and food security, rural economic development, health, education, gender equality and the fight against HIV and AIDS. In total, Irish Aid supported over 280 NGOs and missionary organisations last year. Irish Aid also provides multi-annual funding to organisations in the development education sector in Ireland, through the Development Education Grants Funding Scheme.
Following the supplementary Budget on 7 April, the total allocation for overseas development assistance in 2009 will be €696 million. We are at present examining the adjustments which will be required to the aid programme, and are committed to ensuring that it retains its clear focus on the reduction of poverty and hunger and on the least developed countries in the world, in particular in Africa. Inevitably, there will be some reduction in the funding provided to civil society organisations across the different subheads. However, the Government is determined to strengthen its partnership with civil society. That partnership goes beyond funding arrangements, and involves continuous policy dialogue across a range of vital issues. We will continue to develop the dialogue so that we can achieve our shared goals for development and ensure that the overall Irish contribution has the maximum effect on the lives of the poorest people in the world.