I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 20, 24 and 27 together.
As Deputies will be aware, the Taoiseach announced in early September at the UN Millennium Summit in New York that, following a for mal decision by the Government on 6 September 2000, Ireland will move to meet the UN target for aid to developing countries, 0.7% of GNP, by 2007. He announced too that, as evidence of the Government's determination to honour this commitment, the aid programme would reach 0.45% of GNP in 2002.
Discussions are under way to finalise the allocation for next year, which I am confident, will be appreciably increased on the allocation for this year. Furthermore, it is likely there will be agreement on fixed allocations for the three years 2001, 2002 and 2003, with the allocation for the second year in line with the interim ODA target of 0.45%, estimated at £365 million. This three year deal will have the advantage of allowing for multi-annual budgeting, something especially important in planning expenditure in a growing programme. The net amounts for the Vote will be announced in the context of the publication of the Abridged Book of Estimates for 2001. Deputies will appreciate that, in the context of Government budgeting processes, it is not possible to make formal allocations for more than three years in advance. However, the intention is to continue to make allocations consistent with achieving the 0.7% target by 2007 which, on current estimates, will imply an ODA allocation of around £800 million in that year.
In addition to addressing the allocations issue and agreeing on paths to the interim and UN targets, the Government also decided that the whole overseas development programme should be reviewed in order to establish an updated aid policy as the foundation for the programme's expansion. Plans to carry out this review are at an advanced stage. The process will determine priorities for development assistance including the range of bodies through whom aid can be channelled.