Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

Questions (101)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

101. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the additional €110 million in budget 2019 for overseas development aid will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48081/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For 2019, the Government has allocated almost €817 million for Official Development Assistance (ODA). This level of allocation represents an increase of approximately €110 million – or 16% on the revised 2018 budget allocation. Of this, €544.9 million will be managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, whose Vote 27 – International Co-operation – is known publicly as Irish Aid. The allocation to Vote 27 has been increased by €44 million, or almost 9% on last year’s allocation.

Priorities will be determined in the detailed programme budget planning cycle for Irish Aid in 2019, a process that will be completed before the end of this year. The Government is committed to increased allocations to education, to humanitarian assistance and to peacebuilding. Tackling climate change is another policy priority area that will benefit from the extra budget resources in 2019.

A further estimated €272 million will be managed through other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Co-operation Budget. This represents an increase of €65 million on 2018. This so-called ‘other ODA’ includes Ireland’s share of the EU development cooperation budget, which has increased in 2019.

In addition, the Department of Finance will oversee increased contributions to International Financial Institutions as well as Ireland’s membership of the African Development Bank which will take place in 2019.

There are also increased allocations to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who manage Ireland’s partnerships with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Other programmes receiving increases are managed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and the Revenue Commissioners.