State gives €814m to overseas aid projects

Overseas projects received €814m from Irish Aid last year, it was announced today.

The state was ranked as the sixth most generous per capita aid donor in the world, supporting developments in more than 90 countries.

Meanwhile, over €140m was provided to NGOs and missionaries to support their initiatives to reduce poverty.

In response to natural disasters and complex emergencies Irish Aid provided over €100m in assistance to 40 countries to meet basic humanitarian and recovery needs following such events in 2006 – a 47% rise on humanitarian relief funding in 2005.

The agency’s annual report for 2006 – which centred on a commitment to tackle HIV/AIDS – reported that it achieved its target of spending 100 million euro on communicable diseases.

Launching the report, Michael Kitt, Minister of State for Overseas Development, said Ireland now allocates a greater proportion of its overseas development aid to tackling HIV/AIDS than any other EU country.

“The struggle against HIV and AIDS is central to the fight against global poverty,” said Mr Kitt.

“The disease has a terrible impact on the individual, families and communities.

“In developing countries it devastates local economies and already weak health and education systems.

“Irish Aid is providing much needed support to many of the worst affected countries for treatment and prevention.”

The report found the total donated was more than 0.5% of the state’s Gross National Product – placing the country on course to reach the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on overseas aid by 2012.