Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
49. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how the State expects to honour the commitment to allocate 0.7% of gross national income to overseas development aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/13]
View answer51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will give detailed consideration to a matter relating to overseas development assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36341/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together.
The Government remains committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme. This commitment was strengthened by the publication of our new Policy on International Development, One World, One Future, which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the centrality of the aid programme to our foreign policy. The new Policy restates the commitment in the Programme for Government to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) when economic circumstances permit. Over the past two years, the Government has broadly stabilised the budget for development assistance. This is a significant achievement in the context of the very difficult conditions facing the country.
For 2013 we have allocated a total of €622 million for ODA. Of this, €497 million is managed by my Department under Vote 27 - International Cooperation. The remainder is made up of ODA eligible contributions from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget. This represents a very significant allocation of public funds, is a clear indication of our commitment to the aid programme and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.
