Vol. 515 No. 6
92 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of money set aside in the 2000 budget in his Department for non-governmental organisations; the level of budget paid out to NGOs in 1999; the number in this regard; and if he will make a statement on recent criticisms of his Department over its treatment of NGOs in the allocation of the Government's aid budget. [6671/00]
The overall level of Ireland Aid support to NGOs has increased significantly in recent years both in money terms and as a proportion of total aid, from £3.4 million or 8.4% of total aid in 1992 to £20.7 million or 15% of total aid in 1998. The final year figures for 1999 are still in preparation but I am confident that these will show a further increase on the 1998 figures. Full details will be contained in the Ireland Aid 1999 annual report which is currently being compiled.
It is estimated that official development assistance in 2000 will reach £190 million representing 0.30% of forecasted GNP. Some £136 million of this sum covers the Vote for international cooperation, the bulk of which covers the aid activities of Ireland Aid including the bilateral aid programme. The bilateral aid programme has two principal elements, country programmes in six priority countries and a series of separate programmes to which NGOs may apply for funding. These include the NGO co-financing scheme, the human rights and democratisation scheme, and the emergency relief and rehabilitation assistance scheme. Funding allocated to these schemes in 2000 is set to rise by 24% over budgeted figures for 1999.
Ireland Aid provides funding to Irish, Irish-linked and indigenous NGOs and missionary orders. The number of NGOs receiving funding continues to rise. In 1998, for example, under the NGO co-financing scheme, around 350 NGOs received funding. This figure includes over 90 Irish NGOs and missionary orders active in developing countries.
Funding arrangements are related to the purpose of the different spending programmes and not the nature of the recipient organisations. Funding is also intended to support activities rather than organisations. As funding is project or activity related, funding to any one NGO can also fluctuate from year to year. Activities are appraised on their merits and on the basis of Ireland Aid policies and priorities. Since it will continue to be necessary to apply the criteria of the different funding programmes to funding applications, it is considered that proposals to introduce a separate NGO budget line would serve no practical purpose.
