126. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if specific measures are in place for Irish citizens living in Kenya to evacuate in circumstances where there is a large scale ebola quarantine facility very close by to where they are living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44705/26]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses the infection risk for people living in the EU/EEA to be very low. The WHO advises the criteria for declaration of a pandemic have not been met.

As of 8 June, 515 confirmed cases, including 91 deaths, have been reported for the DRC. In Uganda 19 cases have been reported, including two deaths. According to the WHO, the risk for Kenya is currently assessed as high, as it shares a land border with Uganda, a country with documented Ebola detection. There are currently, however, no suspected or confirmed cases in Kenya.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Health are monitoring the outbreak closely. We are in contact with Irish citizens and our NGO partners in the region and providing advice and updates. Our Embassies are also liaising with local partners and other donors across the affected regions, which, for now, do not include Kenya. We have updated our travel advice for the DRC and Uganda, as well as for neighbouring countries including Kenya, to reflect public health advice regarding Ebola.

We understand that the Kenyan Government and the US Administration have agreed to the establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility at a Kenyan Air Base in central Kenya. The full details of the agreement have not been made public at this stage, and that the matter is subject to ongoing court proceedings in Kenya.

So far in 2026, Ireland has provided €3 million for the WHO General Programme of Work. This is used to support the WHO’s health protection function, specifically for the detection of and response to infectious disease outbreaks, including this Ebola outbreak. An additional contribution of €2 million has also been approved for the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies. This Emergency Fund has released €3.3 million to support the government-led operational response in the DRC and in Uganda in relation to infection prevention and control. Ireland has also provided €16 million the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) this year. The CERF has allocated €8.5 million in response to the outbreak so far.

The Department will continue to monitor developments closely and will maintain contact with Irish citizens across the region.