Joe Sherlock
Ceist:53 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any target figure has been set for Irish overseas development aid for 1991 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Máirín Quill
Ceist:78 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any plans in the next financial year to increase the amount of official overseas development aid; if it is the intention of the Government to restore the ODA figure to its 1986 level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 78 together.
The 1991 Estimates are currently under consideration by the Government and the outcome will be made public in due course.
As has been said in reply to a number of previous similar questions, the Government remain committed to achieving the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for official development assistance. This has been accepted by successive Governments but no date has ever been set for its attainment. In the present budgetary circumstances it is not possible to do so. It, however, remains the intention of the Government to work towards the achievement of this target as economic circumstances permit.