Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
46 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the budgetary implications for overseas development spending over the past 12 months, his views as to whether Ireland will honour its 0.7% target for 2012 and the effects this cut will continue to have on the world’s poorest. [46853/09]
View answer60 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans for overseas development aid funding in 2010 and subsequent years; his views on guaranteeing that there will be no further cuts in the overseas development aid budget in the lifetime of this Government; his further views on achieving the target of spending 0.7% of GNP on overseas development aid by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46643/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 60 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the Government has, in the Budget for 2010, provided a total allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €671 million. €536 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, while a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. On current projections, this will represent 0.52% of GNP, thus maintaining the level that we are likely to achieve for 2009. We expect that this level will also ensure that Ireland remains one of the most generous aid donors internationally in per capita terms.
Our aim in framing the 2010 Budget was to protect the aid programme to the greatest extent possible. Against the background of the budgetary pressures facing the Government we have now stabilised our funding to the aid programme. I am sure the Deputies will welcome this development and acknowledge it as a significant achievement. This decision reflects the Government's determination, supported by the Irish people, to help those in the world who are most in need.
As the Deputies are aware, we set ourselves a target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA by 2012 — three years ahead of the EU target date of 2015. This goal was set in very different times and economic circumstances. During the recent estimates process we carried out a rigorous assessment of our capacity to meet this target. I want to firmly state the Government remains committed to expanding the aid programme once economic conditions improve. However it is now clear that the current economic circumstances prevent us from achieving our 2012 goal.
We are now committed, in line with our fellow EU Member States, to meeting a target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA by 2015. I think is important to point out that Ireland remains ahead of most Member States in progress towards achieving the 2015 target and that we will exceed the interim target set by the EU of spending at least 0.51% of GNP on ODA in 2010. In the current circumstances, the contribution by Irish taxpayers of €671 million to meeting the needs of the world's poorest is a reflection of the strength of our core values as a nation.
Ireland's aid programme has an enviable international reputation and is praised for its sharp focus on poverty reduction and hunger alleviation, and its concentration on the least developed countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is recognised by our peers as one of the best in the world and is described as "cutting edge" by the OECD. Now that we have stabilised funding to the aid programme, our challenge is to ensure we continue to effectively deliver our aid programme so that our contribution to development has the maximum impact and is rigorously focused on achieving clear results for the lives of the poor and the hungry.
