asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the World Food and Agriculture Organisation has stated that up to ten times the area of the world which is already desert is now at significant risk of becoming desert because of climatic and cultivation changes; and the assistance Ireland is giving to the countries concerned to halt this process in the interest of alleviating world hunger.

This problem was discussed at an International Conference on Desertification which was held in Nairobi in 1977. Arising out of the conference a plan of action at international, regional and national level was prepared. In the International sector the main assistance given is the provision through the appropriate United Nations agencies of funds, fertilisers, technical assistance, training and so on.

Through our membership of FAO we support and contribute to various activities which include projects to counter desertification. We also contribute to the World Food Programme which provides certain funds to alleviate this problem.

Would the Minister agree, first of all, that the most acute problem of desertification is occuring in countries which already have an acute starvation problem? Secondly, would the Minister state what aid, in terms of money, Ireland is giving to alleviate this problem?

I cannot specify what assistance our Government are giving to the plan of action. But I can outline for the Deputy the plan of action which stressed three levels of action—national, regional and international approaches on combating desertification. The request urged Governments to identify specific projects to alleviate situations and quantify, in terms of finance and personnel, the requirements for the implementation of these projects. That is the plan of action. I have no information as regards our contribution towards alleviating the problem.

Would the Minister consider asking the appropriate research agencies here—in particular, An Foras Talúntais—to see if some of their resources might be made available to assist the countries concerned in combating this grave problem affecting people who are already near or at the brink of starvation?

I will do that, yes.

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