For 2010, Ireland spent €675 million on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Of this total, €521 million was administered by my Department through Irish Aid. A further €154 million was accounted for by ODA eligible expenditure made through other Government Departments, and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget.
This level of expenditure resulted in Ireland spending approximately 0.53% of its GNP on ODA — and ensured Ireland met, and indeed exceeded, the wider EU target of 0.51%.
Comparative figures for 2009 show that Ireland spent a total of €722 million on ODA, which represented 0.54% of GNP.
Ireland's aid programme is internationally recognised as being of the highest quality and having a sharp focus on poverty reduction, with hunger eradication at its core. The latest OECD review of Ireland's aid programme has described the programme as "cutting edge". Most of Ireland's bilateral ODA is directed to the least developed countries, with a particular focus on a limited number of very poor partner countries, called Programme Countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ireland's aid programme is based on the promotion of sustainable development results and has a particular focus on the social sectors of health, education, governance and addressing food security and hunger. Funding is delivered through a wide range of partner organisations including Programme Country national systems, NGOs and Missionary Organisations and UN and other international specialist agencies.
My Department is currently in the process of finalising the detailed analysis of Ireland's ODA expenditure for 2010, which will be published shortly in the Irish Aid annual report. The detailed analysis of Ireland's 2009 ODA expenditure is available in the 2009 annual report which can be accessed through the Irish Aid website at www.irishaid.gov.ie.