Vol. 514 No. 4
29 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey undertaken for the Development of Education for Youth organisation showing strong support among those surveyed for a substantial increase in Ireland's ODA; the plans, if any, he has to substantially increase ODA in view of the level of support indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4309/00]
31 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recently published report, The Reality of Aid 2000, which concluded that the Government's target for increasing aid spending is becoming a receding horizon in spite of the availability of unprecedented resources and called on the Government to set aid spending on a specific growth path in relation to gross national product; if so, his response to the report; if he will enshrine the 0.7% of GNP target in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4308/00]
44 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when Ireland will reach the UN target of 0.7% of GNP for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4307/00]
46 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has for the expansion of contributions in respect of overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4355/00]
102 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the locations in respect of which Ireland has contributed under the bi-lateral aid programme in the past 12 months; the impact in terms of addressing the issues concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4636/00]
105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the locations on the African continent in respect of which Ireland is engaged in bi-lateral and multi-lateral aid programmes; the degree to which sufficient aid is being channelled into such locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4639/00]
107 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the means whereby it is deemed most efficient to deliver aid to developing countries; if this is best done by direct assistance through official channels, through NGOs or by way of direct involvement in projects such as infrastructural schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 31, 44, 46, 102, 105 and 107 together.
I am aware of the recent survey and of its verification of the strong popular support for development aid. I am aware too of The Reality of Aid report referred to.
The position on the question of aid allocations is that we have for many years accepted the United Nations target for aid volumes of 0.7% of gross national product. We accept too that, despite very high annual cash growth in the programme, the rate of increase in GNP since 1996 and the mathematical impact of introducing a new method for calculating GNP have effectively slowed progress to the UN target. However, it is undeniable that official development assistance has grown hugely in volume terms, from £40 million in 1992 to £178 million in 1999, a fact that has been acknowledged by our donor peers and our partner countries in Africa. In addition, a review of the aid programme carried out in 1999 verified the Irish commitment to quality and sustainability.
