Ahern unveils €5m boost for South African townships

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today announced €5m in Irish Aid funding for the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

Some 1,350 volunteers built 205 houses during the Trust’s most recent building blitz in South Africa in November.

Thousands of Irish volunteers have joined the organisation in its bid to improve the living conditions of people living in townships across the country.

The trust was founded by Dubliner Niall Mellon, 40 after he visited families in shanty towns in South Africa in 2002.

The Taoiseach, on the first day of his official visit to the country, said Mr Mellon had shown remarkable generosity and social responsibility and encouraged the same traits in others.

Visiting a trust project in Capetown, he added: “It is impressive to see at first-hand the results that have been achieved here over a short number of months. It underlines once again the spirit of friendship and mutual support between Ireland and South Africa.

“Reduction of poverty and inequality goes to the heart of the Irish Government Aid Programme. And so today, I am delighted to announce that the Irish Government is providing €5m to support the work of the Niall Mellon Township Trust in Cape Town and Johannesburg.”

The Taoiseach will later launch the Chello Foundation, which provides education for children who have been orphaned by HIV/Aids.

Engagements hosted by Tourism Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are also on the itinerary for the South Africa leg of Mr Ahern’s two-country visit.

Face-to-face talks with South African Deputy President Mlambo Ngcuka are also scheduled.

A courtesy visit is planned tomorrow to the Leratong Hospice founded by Belfast Passionist priest Fr Kieran Creagh.

Fr Creagh was shot twice and robbed by armed burglars in his house in the Hospice last March.

Mr Ahern and his delegation will journey on to Tanzania on Wednesday to visit Irish Aid projects.