Brendan Howlin
Question:115 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17950/99]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
The Government, along with most other donors, is committed to reaching the UN target for aid of 0.7 per cent of GNP. Successive Governments since 1992 have played their part in pursuing this goal. Our ODA in that period has increased every year from £40 million in 1992 to an expected £178 million this year, over a four-fold increase. The progression of ODA as a percentage of GNP in the same period has been from 0.16 per cent to 0.35 per cent.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to making definite progress to the UN goal and has pledged itself to move to an interim target of 0.45 per cent in its lifetime. Since taking office there have been significant cash increases in ODA each year which should reach an expected all time high mark in 1999 of £178 million. However, it has to be said that the extraordinary growth in GNP in recent years has complicated planning to reach the interim target.
Notwithstanding this complication, the Government will continue to increase ODA in the coming years and unusually has already agreed certain increased levels for that part of the overall ODA controlled through Vote 39 by my Department. Thus, in addition to increasing funding and moving to the UN target, the Government, by creating the security necessary for long-term financial planning and aid commitment, is dedicated to maintaining the quality of our aid programme, something recently attested to in an OECD report.