Who Gets What?

A colleague recently brought my attention to a parliamentary question asked last week by Joanna Tuffy - requesting a break down from Minister Power of all Irish Aid funding provided to Irish NGOs in recent years.

The following table was given in reply, from which I will simply list some of the largest benefactors.

Concern Worldwide:
2010 - 15, 997,000
2009 - 24,812,620
2008 - 33,395,950

GOAL:
2010 - 9,960,720
2009 - 16,596,722
2008 - 20,197,526

Trocaire:
2010 - 11,200,000
2009 - 19,524,452
2008 - 22,999,837

Misean Cara:
2010 - 11,200,000
2009 - 16,000,000
2008 - 20,000,000

It is quite clear, from a brief examination of the table, that there is still a propensity for funding to be given to organisations that have a religious ethos at their core. With the exception of GOAL and Guidestar Ireland Ltd, secular NGOs simply do not come close to achieving that level of funding. That is not to say that all organisations with a religious persuasion are provided with such sums (see for example Christian Aid) or that such funding is not justified. It is just a numerical fact. I am also not ignoring that organisations such as Concern have been active for decades and are considerably larger than any other NGO in Ireland - though with such funding, it is clear to see how it can maintain its size and engage in the quantity of work that it does.

I am referencing the table as I think it is important for tax payers to see what organisations are trusted to spend part of Ireland's aid budget. The table should be examined in great detail and judgements should be made by the public as to whether the NGOs that benefit most financially are leaders in their field or examples of best practice.