asked the Minister for Finance if he will, as a declaration of Government policy, divert whatever moneys are saved by the major lessening of financial aid due to the Government's support of the Olympic boycott to making good this year's cut-backs in the official development assistance budget in view of the widespread concern among agencies involved in the area of international human rights at this year's cut-backs.
Written Answers. - Development Assistance Budget.
73.
I would refer the Deputy to a reply given by the Minister for Education to a question on 10 June 1980 in which he stated that any savings on the grant to the Olympic Council of Ireland will be spent on the promotion of sport. The question of diverting such savings to the official development assistance budget does not, therefore, arise.
There is, however, no question of a cut-back in the official development assistance programme as the amount provided for this year is £16.226 million as compared with £13.313 million last year. The increase from £7.3 million in 1977 is a further measure of the Government's commitment in this area.