Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, on overseas development aid; the amount committed through Irish Aid; the projected outturn for 2018; his plans to meet Ireland’s commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP on ODA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35217/18]
View answer156. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent on official development assistance outside of the Irish Aid programme in 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected end of year spend; the amounts and the commitments by programme; the commitments Ireland has for 2019 under EU and international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35218/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.
Ireland’s annual total contribution to Official Development Assistance (ODA) comprises funding allocated under Vote 27 International Cooperation, which is managed by my Department and known to the public as Irish Aid, as well as ODA-eligible contributions made by other Government Departments. In the main, these additional contributions are made by the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget is also taken into account. In recent years roughly 70% of Ireland’s total ODA is funded through Irish Aid / Vote 27.
A summary of Ireland’s total ODA contributions from 2014 through to 2017 is provided in the following table:
Ireland's ODA 2014 through to 2017
Figures in € Millions
|
Vote 27 / Irish Aid |
Other ODA |
Total ODA |
|
|
2017 |
490.44 |
226.12 |
716.56 |
|
2016 |
482.49 |
241.21 |
723.70 |
|
2015 |
481.69 |
165.82 |
647.51 |
|
2014 |
476.29 |
138.57 |
614.86 |
For this year, the Government has allocated a total of €707 million to ODA. Just over €500 million of this amount is managed by my Department through Vote 27, and the remaining €207 million provided through other Government Departments or Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation budget.
By the end of June this year, my Department had disbursed in excess of €195 million of its ODA allocation. I am confident of a full spend by year end under the Vote. Outturn for ‘other ODA’ will not be available until early next year, but based on past trends I expect expenditure levels will reach at least the estimated allocation of €207 million.
The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas development cooperation programme and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. Our Programme for Government sets out our ambition to meet the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) to ODA, as resources permit. This was reaffirmed by the Government at the launch of Global Ireland document last month.
If the Government’s ambition to meet the 0.7% target is to be achieved, sustained, managed increments in ODA will be required, building on Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in combatting global poverty and hunger, and providing humanitarian assistance to those most in need. The process requires careful planning and consultation with other Government Departments and stakeholders. Ireland’s new International Development Policy, which is currently being developed, will provide the framework for ODA budget allocations. The process to develop this new policy is being led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in close consultation with the rest of Government. The new policy, due to be completed and published later this year, will reflect the whole-of-Government effort on international development, and ensure coherence domestically and internationally. A public consultation on the new policy is underway, with written contributions invited from all interested parties prior to a series of public meetings in September.
