Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
252. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent by her Department on funding NGOs, by organisation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11798/26]
View answer253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the total level of Exchequer funding spent on funding NGOs by her Department, in each of the years since 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11816/26]
View answer254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the assessments that are carried out to determine the level of Exchequer funding that any NGO receives from her Department on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11834/26]
View answer255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any direct lobbying she has received from any NGO in relation to her annual funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11858/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252, 253, 254 and 255 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides funding to a range of NGOs through a number of grant schemes dedicated to delivering on the Government's priorities at home and abroad. These include support for international development, development education in Ireland, reconciliation on the island of Ireland, emigrant support, dissemination of information on the European Union, humanitarian assistance, and promotion of international peace and stability.
As set out in the table below, a total of €851 million was provided by the Department directly to NGOs over the three-year period, 2022–2024. It should be noted that the Department’s principal development NGO partners may also access funding through multilateral channels, including United Nations agencies, European Union funding instruments, and other pooled funding mechanisms to which Ireland contributes.
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Official Development Assistance (ODA) |
€239,933,000 |
€267,437,000 |
€269,728,000 |
|
Emigrant Support Programme |
€14,686,000 |
€18,600,000 |
€17,500,000 |
|
Reconciliation Fund |
€5,041,796 |
€4,457,836 |
€10,442,111 |
|
Shared Island Civic Society Fund |
- |
€499,946 |
€2,498,916 |
|
Total |
€259,660,796 |
€290,994,782 |
€300,169,027 |
Most of this funding is provided through Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, Irish Aid, which prioritises support to countries and communities most in need. The Department publishes an Annual Report on Ireland’s ODA, which sets out allocations by country, partner organisation and thematic priority.
The Government's policy for international development, 'A Better World,' provides the framework for this work, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first, addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries, and those living in areas affected by conflict.
Details of grant allocations under the Emigrant Support Programme, and Reconciliation and Shared Island Civic Society Funds are available through the gov.ie and Ireland.ie websites.
When allocating funding to partner organisations, the Department assesses administrative costs, overhead costs, and value for money, with reference to the context and alternatives available. These assessments are undertaken as part of the Department’s standard process for awarding and managing grants, and consistent with its global approach to grant management.
The Department’s independent Evaluation and Audit Unit provides objective assessment, assurance, advice, as well as insight regarding corporate performance, governance, and risk management. The work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit is validated by an external Audit Committee.
The Department maintains regular engagement with its NGO partners. Funding issues form a routine part of this engagement, particularly in the context of broader international pressures on ODA budgets. The Department operates in full compliance with the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and publishes details of its Designated Public Officials, in accordance with statutory requirements. While public bodies are not required to record each individual lobbying engagement and, therefore, the total number of funding representations is not specifically tracked, all interactions are conducted in line with established transparency and accountability standards.
