asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to raise our overseas aid programme budget up to the percentage level of gross national product as recommended by Trócaire and other voluntary organisations.
Written Answers. - Overseas Aid Programme.
46.
The United Nations target for official development assistance by developed countries which is also the target supported by non-Governmental organisations is 0.7 per cent of GNP.
Successive Irish Governments have accepted this as a target figure but no date has been set for its attainment. In present economic circumstances it is not realistic to expect that we could come close to that target at an early date but we continue to accept the target figure in principle and it remains the intention of the Government to work towards it according as our economic circumstances permit us to do so.