Some White Paper Initiatives

• This year Irish Aid will take a new programme country with the opening of an embassy in Malawi. This will allow us to deepen our support for a country where over two thirds of the population live below the poverty line.


• As Irish Aid expands, so too will the funding available to NGO's and missionaries. Our funding to NGO's was €48 million in 2001. Last year it had risen to over €140 million.


• I would like to assure you of the Government's strong support for the development work of our missionaries. The missionaries were the pioneers in the area of development cooperation even before the official aid programme. Their commitment, professionalism and caring approach continue to be an inspiration.


• The establishment of a Public Information and Volunteering Centre on O'Connell Street early in 2008 will help to promote understanding of development issues amd the work of Irish Aid. It will also encourage greater interest in volunteering for development. I hope that the Centre will prove a useful resource for all those interested in promoting the development agenda in Ireland.