Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
91. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure on overseas development aid; the way in which it equates to the target of reaching 0.7% of ODA-GNI; the cost of reaching the 0.7% target in incremental steps in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15082/19]
View answerThe Government launched Ireland’s new policy for international development, A Better World, on 28 February. This new policy reaffirms the Government’s commitment in Global Ireland 2025, to expand official development assistance and make progress on delivering the United Nations target of allocating 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) for official development assistance by 2030.
This new policy provides the framework for that expansion. At current projections it could mean tripling our current contributions. In order to achieve this ambition difficult choices will be required between competing priorities, especially if economic circumstances change, and this will require ongoing careful planning and consultation with other Government Departments and stakeholders will be needed if a steady, phased and prudent approach is to be achieved.
Based on current projections for economic growth, which may change as circumstances evolve, achieving the 0.7% target by 2030 would mean more than tripling the current allocations to ODA, and would require sustained, substantial managed increments given that the point of departure is 0.3% of GNI this year. The Government is already making progress, having increased allocations to official development assistance by 32% since 2014. Budget 2019 saw the highest increase in funding available in over a decade, with Irish official development assistance in 2019 is forecast to reach almost €817 million, an increase of approximately €110 million and a 16% increase on the allocation announced in budget 2018.
The table sets out indicative allocations to ODA, based on current economic growth forecasts, which show a possible phased path to reaching the 0.7% target by 2030. Allocations will of course be made annually as part of the normal budgetary process.
|
Year |
ODA level € Million |
Expected ODA/GNI % Target |
|
2019 |
817 |
0.30% |
|
2023 |
1400 |
0.50% |
|
2025 |
1800 |
0.57% |
|
2027 |
2100 |
0.62% |
|
2030 |
2500 |
0.70% |
