Vol. 526 No. 6
101 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that GOAL received only £1 million out of an overseas development aid budget of £189 million in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/00]
The total amount for Ireland's ODA in 1999 was approximately £181 million of which £113.5 million was administered by my Department. In 1999, GOAL received a total of £1,399,000 from my Department for projects undertaken in the developing world. In addition £110,000 was received by GOAL via APSO bringing the total funding from the Government to £1,509,000. This year £2,163,000 has been committed to GOAL from my Department and a further £120,000 has been received via APSO bringing the total to £2,283,000. This represents an increase of 51% on the 1999 allocation and is way ahead in percentage terms of the overall increase in the aid programme this year. This is a very healthy increase in funding given the many demands on the aid budget from so many deserving quarters.
As I have said before I believe that in a situation of increased funding for the overall programme, the role of NGOs such as GOAL in the programme can and should be strengthened. I want to see enhanced funding being channelled through NGOs. However, I would like to see this combined with a more strategic approach to the way aid is delivered through development programmes co-financed with our NGOs and with increased focus being given to outcomes and impact. The OECD review of the Irish Government's programme of development co-operation last year noted that support through NGOs already absorbs a relatively large share of the Government's aid spending. It also pointed to the balance which needs to be struck between increases in funding and the maintenance of quality, something which I am sure the NGOs themselves would endorse.
Question No. 102 taken with Question No. 81.
