Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
194 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the sums provided by Irish Foreign Aid to Uganda each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20419/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra195 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if all foreign aid to Uganda is given directly to the Ugandan Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra196 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the purpose for which moneys provided by Irish Overseas Aid to Uganda were given; if he investigated if the moneys provided were used for its intended purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20421/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 to 196, inclusive, together.
Uganda is one of the nine priority countries for the Government's aid programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranked 161 out of 187 in the 2011 United Nations Human Development Index.
Irish Aid has been working in Uganda since 1994 and has made a significant contribution to its development and the fight against poverty and hunger. Despite economic progress in recent years, Uganda remains an extremely poor country struggling with chronic poverty.
Our programme of assistance targets priority areas such as the provision of health services for people living with HIV and AIDS, measures to improve access to education, and the strengthening of governance and justice systems for the people of Uganda. It also addresses hunger and vulnerability in Karamoja, the most disadvantaged region of Uganda and a priority area for our bilateral support.
In addition to funds provided through our bilateral programme in Uganda, Irish Aid support is also channelled through Irish NGOs and missionaries. €6.2 million was provided to Irish development NGOs and missionaries for their long-term development work in Uganda in 2011.
The following table sets out the sums provided by the Government through Irish Aid to Uganda since 2005:
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
€33,174,016 |
€38,757,158 |
€45,592,926 |
€52,253,000 |
€44,083,000 |
€41,922,000 |
€38,888,506 |
Ireland's bilateral programme in Uganda has achieved important results across a range of sectors. Irish Aid has, for example, strongly supported the national education programme which now has 8.3 million pupils in primary schools compared to 2.5 million in 1997. Irish Aid has also helped to rehabilitate and build eleven primary schools and two teacher training colleges in Karamoja. With Ireland's support, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda has been cut to 6.4% compared to 18% in the 1990s and 150,000 people with HIV and AIDS in Uganda are now accessing life saving anti-retroviral drugs.
It is important to note that in Uganda, Ireland uses defined instruments of support earmarked for specific development initiatives. We do not provide general budget support to the Government of Uganda. The aid programme is implemented in cooperation with a range of different partners including international and local NGOs, research institutions and Government bodies. Irish Aid has rigorous planning, monitoring, evaluation and audit mechanisms in place. This ensures that all funds are spent effectively and are used for the purposes intended. Regular and robust audits are carried out by independent audit firms as well as by Irish Aid's Evaluation and Audit Unit, including internal auditors based in Uganda.
Ireland's development aid programmes operate in some of the most difficult environments in the world, but I am satisfied that the planning, monitoring, evaluating and audit systems which we have in place provide the best assurance that our aid is being used effectively and efficiently and is making a real difference for the people of Uganda.
