Emer Currie
Ceist:171. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the rollout of contactless fare payment on public transport systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63501/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Transport
Ceisteanna (171)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing and technology projects.
The NTA's Next Generation Ticketing project will provide a transformative upgrade to the ticketing system for public transport passengers in Ireland. The project will facilitate a variety of payment methods on public transport services, involving a new-generation 'Account Based Ticketing' scheme incorporating both mobile and card-based payments for passengers.
Following a competitive procurement process, in April 2024 the NTA awarded an overall framework contract for the design, supply, installation and operation of the new multi-modal ticketing system to a Spanish information technology company, Indra Sistemas, who have designed, installed and operated similar systems internationally.
A huge effort is being put in by NTA to ensure that this transformational and beneficial project for public transport passengers is delivered as effectively as possible.
I note that, in parallel, the NTA is starting a phased introduction of contactless fare payments on TFI Local Link services, which is a major milestone in improving accessibility and convenience for rural communities. Passengers travelling on TFI Local Link Tipperary services will be able to pay their fares using debit or credit cards, as well as mobile payment options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (172)
Pa Daly
Ceist:172. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the review of the Expressway services recently reported; the timeline for when this review will be completed; the steps he is taking to ensure that a service continues on that route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63064/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
Further, Bus Éireann's Expressway services is a commercial bus service and responsibility for the operation of the service is a matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (173)
George Lawlor
Ceist:173. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Taoiseach the number of vacancies which arose at principal officer level for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of these vacancies filled between internal and external methods; the number of vacancies each year at principal officer level filled by mobility; and the number of internal competitions for principal officer grade run by his Department since 2010 [63033/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of the Taoiseach prioritises building and sustaining a dynamic,agileand responsive workforce that supports the Taoiseach and the Government; and is aligned to the Department’s Statement of Strategy.
While the Programme for Government dictates our priority work areas and resources are assigned and reallocated to align with those priorities, the Department maintains a constant focus on being a lean, agile organisation by resourcing new and expanding work areas by reallocating existing resources and, only where necessary, recruiting additional staff.
The information requested in respect of the Department of the Taoiseach in the period specified, is set out in the below table:
|
Principal Officer Positions* |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
To date 2025 |
|
Filled by internal competition |
2
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Filled by external competition |
0 |
0 |
1
|
1 |
|
Filled by mobility (including secondment) |
0 |
3
|
0 |
1
|
*Excludes politically appointed staff
In the period from 2010 to date, there were six internal competitions for promotion to Principal Officer in the Department of the Taoiseach.
The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, had one vacancy at Principal Officer level during the period specified. This vacancy was filled by external competition in July 2025. NESDO had no internal competitions for Principal Officer grade from 2010 to date.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (174)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:174. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach the number of vacant and derelict buildings in County Mayo owned by his Department that are vacant or rented, by the region/towns location of the buildings, in tabular form. [62680/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of the Taoiseach does not own any buildings in County Mayo or in any other location. The accommodation used by the Department is provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.
Artificial Intelligence
Ceisteanna (175)
Emer Currie
Ceist:175. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Taoiseach the timeframe for finalisation and publication of the new National Digital and AI Strategy. [63450/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As committed to under the Programme for Government, the National Digital Strategy is currently being updated to ensure we harness the digital and AI revolution to deliver effective and modern public services and to grow the economy.
The updated National Digital and AI Strategy will set out priority deliverables to drive effective adoption of Digital and AI in Ireland in the years ahead. A targeted stakeholder consultation was held over the summer. The Strategy, which will have a whole-of-government focus, is due to be finalised by end-2025.
Departmental Legal Cases
Ceisteanna (176)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:176. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach the total legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions involving his Department and/or agencies within the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63629/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Neither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - has incurred any legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions during the period specified.
Regeneration Projects
Ceisteanna (177)
Tom Brabazon
Ceist:177. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach the progress that has been made to date in achievement of the stated goals of the Dublin City Task force; the spending on establishing the taskforce; and the projected costs and funding for next 10 years. [63730/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In May 2024, the Government appointed a Taskforce to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre, north and south to make Dublin City Centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, was the Independent Chair. Membership comprised representatives across business, NGOs, social partners and the public service. The Department of the Taoiseach did not incur any costs associated with the establishment of the Dublin City Taskforce.
Following its report 'Capital City', the Department of the Taoiseach convened an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to examine the recommendations made by the Dublin City Taskforce, as agreed by Government. The IDG, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, submitted their report to Government along with a 10-year comprehensive Roadmap for Delivery.
Through the Roadmap for Delivery a number of new measures are being put in place to make Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. These include:
An Oversight Board comprising all of the relevant Departments and Agencies, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, has been established to oversee and provide strategic direction for delivery of the Roadmap.
A 10-Year Integrated Area Strategy for Dublin city centre is being developed to optimise funding and investment and tackle vacancy and dereliction as well as redevelopment of the GPO as an ambitious and historic flagship project.
Existing Dublin City Council structures, including engagement structures, are being utilised to support implementation of the Roadmap. In addition, Dublin City Council plan to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to drive delivery operating under its auspices to support the specific capital developments relevant to the project.
The Roadmap creates an enabling environment designed to build confidence with business, landholders and investors to get involved in achieving a new vision for Dublin City Centre and to drive private sector investment. In addition, changes to the Living City Initiative, announced as part of Budget 2026, will support regeneration and efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction in the city.
Each relevant department and agency will factor the funding requirements of specific actions under the Delivery Roadmap into the appropriate phases of the revised NDP and funding allocations. Additional URDF funding will be provided under the revised NDP which will help create redevelopment momentum more generally and support creation of the oversight structures.
For revenue costs relating to services (whether new or existing commitments), these will be dealt with in the Estimates processes year-on-year, commencing in Budget 2026.
Diaspora Issues
Ceisteanna (178)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:178. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the Government will take to smooth the bureaucratic and financial way for returning Irish emigrants with their families. [63815/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As set out in the Programme for Government, the Government remains committed to deepening our engagement with the diaspora and facilitating the easier return to Ireland for emigrants.
Reducing barriers faced by those who wish to return to Ireland is a central priority for the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair. The Committee consists of representatives of key government departments and external stakeholders working with the diaspora on this important issue.
Responding to the strong message I have heard, work is underway on facilitating reciprocal driving license exchange agreements with the US. As such agreements have to be concluded at State level, we will prioritise those states with significant Irish populations. Discussions have already begun between the Irish Road Safety Authority and their counterparts in New York.
In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will allocate grants of almost €16.5 million under the Emigrant Support Programme Among the projects funded are:
• support for a range of Irish centres and community groups abroad who can provide advice on returning home;
• organisations in Ireland such as Crosscare and Safe Home, who advise and facilitate Irish people who want to return home;
• the Returning to Ireland portal on the Citizens’ Information website, which contains a wide range of very practical information for returning emigrants; and
• the very successful Back for Business initiative, which provides peer to peer guidance to early stage entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland.
Furthermore, work is already underway on the development of a new diaspora strategy. As part of this, I have met with representatives of Irish communities and organisations in Britain, Europe, the US, Canada, the Middle East and beyond to learn about the challenges and opportunities that exist for the Irish abroad. I also hosted consultations in Dublin and Galway and a valuable discussion with Oireachtas members in July.
The issue of assisting returning emigrants has come up in many discussions and I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring our new strategy builds on existing efforts to reduce administrative hurdles and improve the provision of information for those wishing to return to Ireland.
Middle East
Ceisteanna (179)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:179. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland will raise at European level the decision of the Israeli authorities to obstruct and place a five year travel ban on the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware of the decision of the Israeli authorities to place a five year travel ban on the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine. This ban follows on from a previous case of members of a European Parliament delegation being refused access to Israel in February 2025.
At that time, my officials raised this matter with the EU Delegation in Tel Aviv and were advised that delegation members were refused entry to Israel under the ‘Law for the Prevention of Harm to the State of Israel through Boycotts.’ Parliamentarians from other countries have been refused entry to Israel under the same law. I regret that the travel of the delegation was not facilitated and reiterate that diplomatic and political contacts are essential at this critical time in the region.
Members of the European Parliament are directly elected representatives of the citizens of the EU, and it is essential that democratic institutions are seen to reflect citizens’ concerns. This includes carrying out official travel on fact-finding missions or other visits which contribute to shaping the European Parliament’s external relations. MEPs as well as Parliament officials should therefore, where possible, be facilitated in undertaking such travel.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (180, 181, 182)
Barry Ward
Ceist:180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied); if he will consider allocating targeted funding for this project as part of Ireland’s wider financial support for Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62797/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:181. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the matter of the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied) at an EU level to propose direct funding for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62798/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider facilitating a meeting with an Irish based engineer that is part of the ongoing construction of a children’s hospital in Ukraine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62799/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 181 and 182 together.
Ireland has been a consistent supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s illegal invasion in February 2022, including through vital humanitarian and stabilisation supports designed to provide the most effective assistance possible to the people of Ukraine. This year the Tánaiste and I approved funding of €35.5 million in such supports in response to the Ukraine crisis.
Ireland provides a wide range of humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports. Our humanitarian response is primarily channelled through long-standing trusted partners including UN agencies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Ireland’s flexible support helps humanitarian partners to reach the most vulnerable whether they remain close to frontlines, are displaced elsewhere in Ukraine, or have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Last year Ireland partnered with UNFPA to rehabiliate the basements of two hospitals in eastern Ukraine: Maternity hospital no. 25 and the Kharkiv Regional Perinatal Centre. These underground clinics will allow maternal and perinatal care to continue uninterrupted during attacks, while also providing patients and hospital personnel with safe shelter. Located in Ukraine’s north-east, not far from the border with Russia, Kharkiv is one of the cities which has been hardest hit by the continuing Russian attacks.
Ireland is also partnerning this year with Estonia to refurbish an Intensive Care Unit in Berdychiv City and to provide training to health care professionals at the hospital to build capacity for provide vital healthcare to the local population.
In addition, Ireland’s funding in 2025 includes support for the provision of school protection shelters, for Ukraine’s path to EU accession, for the provision of school meals in frontline districts, and critical supports for the country’s energy infrastructure which is being particularly targeted by Russian forces as winter sets in.
All supported projects respond to an identified need and are subject to in-depth and thorough appraisals to ensure Ireland provides the most effective support possible to those in need and which aligns with Ireland’s funding priorities.
I have asked officials to make contact with the Deputy's office to facilitate contact in relation to the proposal he has raised.
Question No. 181 answered with Question No. 180.
Question No. 182 answered with Question No. 180.
heading
Ceisteanna (183, 194)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:183. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on Ireland’s commitment to the “loss and damage” mechanism agreed at COP30; and the amount of additional funding or support which Ireland will provide in the next five years. [62948/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSorca Clarke
Ceist:194. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's current and planned financial contributions to the loss and damage fund; the timeline for disbursement of such funds; the mechanisms in place to ensure that Ireland's contributions are additional to existing official development assistance commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63146/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 194 together.
At COP28 in Dubai in 2023, final agreement was reached on the establishment of a new Loss and Damage Fund to support developing countries to respond to the impacts of climate change. Ireland played a key role in the design, scope and structure of the new Fund. The Government pledged a €25 million contribution to the Fund, demonstrating our support for its implementation. This pledge has been fully paid with the provision of €10 million in November 2024 and €15 million in June 2025. Ireland’s contribution to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage is the second highest globally, on a per capita basis.
Following the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, Ireland was nominated to the Board and currently shares a seat with the European Commission. Ireland’s key priority on the Board is to ensure that the fund is operational and that support reaches the most vulnerable countries affected by climate change. At COP 30, which I have just attended in Belem, the Irish delegation attended the launch of the start-up phase of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, the ‘Barbados Implementation Modalities’. We are are actively following the Loss and Damage negotiations. The first payments to countries from the Fund are anticipated in 2026. The replenishment process of the Fund is expected to commence in 2027, at which point we will consider further funding.
Our funding for Loss and Damage aligns with the Government's broader climate finance commitments in recent years to scaling up our international climate finance. Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap sets out how we will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million annually in climate finance by 2025. This target constitutes a more than doubling of Ireland's climate finance since it was made by the Taoiseach at COP 26 (2021). We are on track to meet this target this year, due to increases in climate finance provided in Budgets in recent years.
Foreign Birth Registration
Ceisteanna (184)
Seán Crowe
Ceist:184. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the average turnaround time for applications to the foreign birth register. [62953/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation across several jurisdictions and three generations.
FBR applications are currently being processed at the advertised time of approximately nine months. The processing time begins when the physical application form and supporting documents are received in the FBR Unit of the Passport Service. Where additional supporting documentations are required, more time will be required to process the application.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (185)
Niall Collins
Ceist:185. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will assist a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62971/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked officials in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to engage directly with the Deputy in relation to this individual case.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (186)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:186. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount allocated to Irish Aid in 2025; and the way in which this compares to the previous five years. [62973/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland's international development programme focusses on providing support for countries and communities most seriously in need. For 2025, €810.3 million was allocated for the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the highest level to date in the history of the programme.
Budget 2026 has provided for a further increase of €30 million for next year, for a total allocation of €840.3 million.
Figures for the Budget for Vote 27 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the preceding five years and the year-on-year increases in the allocations to 2025 are set out in tabular format below:
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Vote 27 - International Cooperation, € millions |
550.7 |
571 |
604.9 |
716.5 |
775.3 |
810.3 |
|
Year-on-year change, € millions |
5.8 |
20.3 |
33.9 |
111.6 |
58.8 |
35.0 |
In addition to the funding allocated to Vote 27, Ireland’s total Official Development Assistance (ODA) also includes contributions from other Government Departments, Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget and eligible supports for refugees in their first year in Ireland.
Detailed information on the distribution of Ireland's ODA is published every year in the Government's Official Development Assistance Annual Report, which is available online.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (187)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:187. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proportion of Ireland’s GNI that is spent on ODA annually. [62974/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government remains committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA). The commitment was reaffirmed in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and again in the Programme for Government.
Ireland’s total ODA for 2024 was €2.35 billion, representing 0.56% of Gross National Income (GNI). Excluding ODA-eligible support for Ukrainian refugees in their first year in Ireland, the figure was €1.72 billion, or 0.41% as a percentage of GNI. This was an increase from 0.38% in 2023.
Annual figures from 2020 to 2024 are set out below in tabular format.
|
Year |
ODA €M |
ODA €M less Ukraine Refugee Costs |
ODA as a % of GNI |
ODA as a % of GNI less Ukraine Refugee Costs |
|
2020 |
867.5 |
|
0.31% |
|
|
2021 |
976.1 |
|
0.30% |
|
|
2022 |
2,291.1 |
1,411.1 |
0.63% |
0.39% |
|
2023 |
2,604.8 |
1,467.2 |
0.67% |
0.38% |
|
2024 |
2,350.0 |
1,723.5 |
0.56% |
0.41% |
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (188)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:188. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of current Irish funded development projects in Africa, including funding amounts and objectives. [62975/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland's international development programme provides support for countries and communities most acutely in need, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, provides the framework, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries, as well as those living in areas affected by conflict.
In 2024, Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA) totalled €2.35 billion, of which €771.3 million was managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A total of €187.5 million of bilateral ODA was channelled to our main priority countreis in Africa: Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Kenya, Liberia and Senegal. The funding supported development programmes focused on education, health, climate resilient livelihoods, gender equality and governance. This support is channelled through programmes managed by our Embassies in these countries, and through through civil society and humanitarian organisations, and multilateral organisations, including the United Nations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
In addition, very significant humanitarian assistance was provided to countries in Africa facing unprecedented levels of crisis, because of conflict, climate change, inequalities and natural disasters. In 2024, a total of €69. 8 million in ODA was provided in humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Central African Republic and Chad. The objective of the funding was to address the needs of some of the world’s poorest, prioritising life-saving assistance.
The Government's Official Development Assistance Annual Report details our activities in partner countries and highlights the impact of the international development programme, Irish Aid. The Annual Report 2024 is available online. It contains a number of statistical annexes which provide details on the funding to countries receiving bilateral ODA, to multilateral organisations and to civil society organisations.
For this year, the Government has provided €810.3 million for the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As announced in Budget 2026, this will be increased to €840.3 million for next year, the highest ever level of funding for the Irish Aid programme.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (189)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:189. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Irish Aid monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of its funded projects. [62976/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government delivers our international development programme through several channels: our Embassies in developing countries, civil society and humanitarian organisations, and multilateral organisations, including the United Nations and its agencies. The key criterion to determine which channel to use is the ability of the partner to reach those in need in the most effective way possible. High standards of accountability ensure that the aid provided reaches its intended beneficiaries, making a real difference in the lives of those furthest behind.
Robust systems are in place on the traceability of Ireland’s funding to multilateral agencies. We rely on strong internal and external oversight functions, which we and other international donors have insisted on for multilateral agencies. Detailed reports and recommendations on the use of funding are presented to us at Executive Board level and committees in the EU context. Ireland also engages actively on the Executive Boards of UN agencies.
Ireland’s involvement in and support of the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) ensures additional oversight and independent assessments of multilateral organisations. We encourage multilateral agencies to utilise the findings of MOPAN assessments as a means for improvement, with a view to increasing effectiveness.
We also implement detailed accountability mechanisms to monitor funding to international development NGOs to implement programmes and projects in countries which are eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). The OECD has commended Ireland for the quality of our partnerships with international development NGOs.
Within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the independent Evaluation and Audit Unit supports, protects, and enhances the delivery of the Department’s overall mission by providing objective assessment, assurance, advice, and insight regarding corporate performance, governance, risk management, and internal control, including through evaluation.
Evaluations in the Department are undertaken in three ways: centralised evaluations undertaken or commissioned directly by the Evaluation and Audit Unit; spending reviews, in line with the Public Spending Code; and decentralised evaluations commissioned and managed by Business Units and Missions.
In addition to the Department's Evaluation Policy (2022), the Evaluation and Audit Unit’s Evaluation and Audit Strategy 2024–2027 guides the work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit.
Overseas Development Aid
Ceisteanna (190)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:190. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the support Irish Aid provides to women’s empowerment programmes in developing countries. [62977/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a key priority for Ireland’s foreign policy. A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, commits to the provision of direct funding to gender equality programmes as well as to ensuring the integration of the needs and interests of women and girls across all of our work.
Ireland has consistently been ranked among the OECD member countries with the highest share of Official Development Assistance with gender equality objectives. In addition, we fund interventions directly dedicated to supporting women’s political and economic empowerment; prioritising girls’ access to quality education; addressing gender based violence; and improving women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health.
In our work on women’s economic empowerment, we champion a particular focus on women’s empowerment in agriculture and food systems, recognising that although women produce up to 80% of food in developing countries, significant gender inequalities undermine their earning potential by limiting their access to land, credit, inputs and services.
Through our partnerships with organisations including the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the International Land Coalition, we work to strengthen women’s rights to inherit and own land and improve women smallholders’ access to finance through the gender-inclusive reform of financial institutions, including credit unions. Since 2024, Ireland has also partnered with the UN Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment, which works to support women’s livelihoods and leadership in food systems in nine developing countries.
In addition, in 2024, we committed support to the Commit to Grow Equality Initiative established by the FAO ahead of the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026. The initiative works to monitor, coordinate and enhance countries’ and international organisations’ efforts to achieve gender equality in agri-food systems.
More broadly, there has been a significant increase in Ireland’s ODA designated towards women's rights organisations over the last five years. This is in line with Ireland’s commitments at the Generation Equality Forum in 2021. In 2024 we launched two new partnerships to resource women-led organisations’ engagement on climate justice and to provide rapid response grants to women human rights defenders in crisis contexts.
Ireland will continue to be to the fore in international efforts to drive gender equality and champion the rights of women and girls, in our statements and through increased investments in the implementation of our international development policy.