Question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mr. Charles Flanagan, TD)
To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding provided by Irish Aid to India in 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWER on Tuesday, 10 March 2015.
REPLY
India is not a key partner country for the Government’s aid programme. However, through Irish Aid, we provided a total of €5,746,879 for development work with poor communities in India in 2013 and 2014. Some €2,852,334 was provided in 2013 and €2,894,545 in 2014, through Non-Governmental Organisations.
Over the two years, Irish Aid provided €1.6 million in funding to Trócaire to support its work to increase the capacities of marginalised households, particularly women, to secure land rights, food security and increased income in southern Odisha. €1.2 million was provided to Goal to support its work in health, livelihoods and child empowerment and protection in West Bengal.
Over 2013 and 2014, Irish Aid provided €2,155,074 for missionaries working in India for development projects in education, human rights, agriculture and health.
Irish Aid also provided a total of €488,615 to a number of smaller NGOs for projects on education, human rights, health, and agriculture in India. These include the Hope Foundation, Anti-Slavery International, Global Schoolroom, and the Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation for projects in education, human rights and health.
In addition, over the two years 2013 and 2014, Irish Aid funding of some €300,000 was provided directly by the Embassy of Ireland in India for local non-governmental organisations’ projects in agriculture, education, human rights, gender, nutrition and health.