The Government said this morning that it is to give €3 million in further humanitarian and recovery assistance to Iraq.
The money, it says, will focus on meeting the basic needs of the most vulnerable Iraqis, especially women and children.
The pledge is being made at the Donors' Conference on Iraq which will be held in Madrid on October 23rd and 24th.
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This pledge is in addition to the €5 million made available to NGOs, International Humanitarian Organisations and UN agencies to for Iraq.
To be distributed over the next 18 months, the funds will be disbursed through UN Trust Fund mechanisms and partner agencies such the Red Cross.
"While my principal concern remains assisting the poorest of the poor, especially in Africa, I believe it is incumbent on us to continue to respond to the most pressing needs of the most vulnerable in Iraq," Mr Tom Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, said.
"Our focus in Iraq will continue to be those sections of society, especially women and children, who have suffered most over the last two decades and during the recent conflict."
To date in 2003 €5 million has been disbursed to the Red Cross, Unicef, World Food Programme (WFP), Concern, Trocaire and Goal.