Irish Aid is the Irish Government's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Programme. It provides long-term support and emergency relief to developing countries, particularly in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.It is administered according to principles laid down in "Irish Aid: Consolidation and Growth: A Strategy Plan", published by the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1993.
2. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IRISH AID?
Irish Aid is designed to alleviate poverty and meet the basic needs of people in some of the world's poorest countries. It works in partnership with the people and governments of these countries to help them to control their own economic and social development.
3. WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS ARE UNDERTAKEN?
Projects are undertaken in such areas as primary health care, education, sanitation, rural development and capacity building (the establishment of government structures which can carry on the work). There is a strong emphasis on training local people who can then continue with the projects after Irish Aid assistance has been phased out.
4. WHO IS IN CHARGE OF IRISH AID?
Ms Joan Burton, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, has special responsibility for Irish Aid.
5. HOW LARGE IS THE IRISH AID BUDGET?
The budget for 1996 is a record £106 million. The figures for 1993, 1994 and 1995 were £55 million, £70 million and £89 million, respectively. All funding is given in the form of grants. As no loans are given, no debt is created.At a time when many other countries are cutting their overseas aid budgets, the Irish Government is committed to increasing the Irish Aid budget towards a UN-recommended level of 0.7% GNP.
6. HOW IS IRISH AID ADMINISTERED?
Irish Aid is administered through the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, which maintains diplomatic missions in five of the most important recipient countries of Irish Aid. Funds are distributed in the forms of bilateral and multilateral aid.
7. WHAT IS BILATERAL AID?
Bilateral aid is given directly by the Irish Government - or is sometimes given through Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) - to projects in developing countries. These projects have been carefully assessed and are being thoroughly monitored. Most are in priority countries.
8. WHAT ARE PRIORITY COUNTRIES?
Because there are so many parts of the world in need of assistance, each donor country selects particular priority countries to receive the bulk of its aid. Ireland's priority countries, for which one of the main selection criteria is low GNP, are: Ethiopia, Lesotho, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
9. WHAT IS MULTILATERAL AID?
Multilateral aid is channelled through international organisations, such as the United Nations.
10. WHAT ROLE DOES IRISH AID PLAY IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY?
Ireland is involved in the decision-making processes of the European Union (EU) and of the United Nations (UN), in relation to overseas development. Some 38% of the 1995 Irish Aid budget is being invested in large-scale, multilateral aid projects financed by the EU and various UN organisations.
11. WHAT IS IRISH AID'S ROLE IN RELATION TO REFUGEES?
There are about 1000 refugees in Ireland, most of whom are from Vietnam or Bosnia. An additional 250 Bosnian refugees, together with family members, are due to arrive before mid- 1996. Irish Aid is responsible for the travel arrangements of refugees and works in close cooperation with the Refugee Agency, a body established by the Government in 1991, under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
A new Refugee Bill has been introduced (6 October 1995) which aims to place Ireland at the forefront of progressive international law and practice in relation to asylum seekers.
12. WHAT IS EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN RELIEF?
Irish Aid allocates a certain percentage of its budget to emergency humanitarian assistance, to help countries that are experiencing catastrophes in the form of natural disasters, famine, war or civil strife (eg, Rwanda, Somalia and former Yugoslavia).
Emergency aid is channelled through NGOs such as Concern, Trócaire, Goal, Christian Aid, Gorta, Irish Red Cross and through various international agencies such as UNICEF and UNHCR.
13. WHAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN IRISH AID AND NGOs?
Irish Aid works in close cooperation with NGOs for both bilateral and multilateral aid programmes. One special feature is the NGO Co-Financing Scheme, whereby Irish Aid pays up to 75% of the cost of particular NGO projects. This scheme is not restricted to large NGOs and small missionary orders and other organisations may also apply.
14. WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN IRISH AID AND APSO?
APSO (Agency for Personal Services Overseas) is a state sponsored body, set up in 1974. It enables Irish people to share their skills and knowledge with people in the developing world. APSO receives a grant-in-aid from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
15. WHAT STANCE DOES IRISH AID TAKE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?
Irish Aid supports human rights and democratisation. It encourages the development of institutions and mechanisms that empower people, especially the poor or those who are victims of discrimination.
16. WHAT STANCE DOES IRISH AID TAKE ON GENDER ISSUES?
Irish Aid is committed to gender equality in all areas of development. It particularly encourages projects that offer education and training for women which will allow them to participate fully in all aspects of decision-making.
17. HOW ARE IRISH AID PROJECTS ASSESSED?
All projects submitted to Irish Aid are assessed at local level, at Departmental level and by the Audit and Evaluation Unit. This body comprises a panel of experts from a number of areas (including auditing, health, education and rural development), each of whom has experience of working in overseas development.
18. WHY HAS IRISH AID INTRODUCED A NEW AWARENESS PROGRAMME?
Irish Aid has recently appointed an Information Officer to publicise its activities. As the aid programme expands, it is important to keep the public informed of the aims, objectives and activities of Irish Aid. Part of the Information Officer's brief is to give the public a sense of ownership of the Programme.
A brochure about Irish Aid has recently been published and a series of fact-sheets is being prepared. Each fact-sheet will describe a different aspect of Irish Aid's activities. The first of these fact-sheets will be available in the spring of 1996.
The Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC) was set up in November 1993, as part of the Government's Strategy Plan for Irish Aid. The functions of the 14-member Committee are to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs on matters relating to: development cooperation; policy aspects of Ireland's aid programme; and the operation, consolidation and expansion of the Irish Aid programme.
20. HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IRISH AID'S ACTIVITIES?
