Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
8. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in achieving the target for overseas development assistance of 0.7% of gross national income by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43722/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) in Official Development Assistance (ODA). This is reaffirmed in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and in the Programme for Government.
We have just published the 2022 ODA Annual Report, which contains detailed statistics on Ireland's development and humanitarian assistance worldwide. It shows that, in 2022, Ireland's total ODA reached an all-time high level of 0.63% of GNI, including eligible first-year costs for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. Excluding costs related to Ukrainian refugees, total ODA stood at 0.39% of GNI. It is important to note that in 2022, and again in 2023, none of the costs associated with the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland has been sourced from the original ODA Budget allocation.
For 2023, the Government has provided over €1.233 billion for ODA, the ninth consecutive year in which the allocation has increased. The increase this year included €100 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs: €75 million to address the direct and indirect consequences of the war in Ukraine, and €25 million towards meeting our international climate finance commitments. The eventual outturn for ODA is likely to be higher, depending on development in relation to first-year refugee costs during the year.
Ireland's international development programme has a very strong global reputation for its effectiveness and its focus on extreme poverty and hunger. The 2020 OECD Peer Review of Ireland's development cooperation found Ireland to be a leading voice for sustainable development. The OECD mid-term review, published in the past week, states that Ireland has continued its leadership as an advocate for sustainable development, a staunch multilateralist, a good partner for civil society and promoter of development education.
