Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:217 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of GNP that was devoted to overseas aid in the year 2002; and the absolute value of such aid. [13862/03]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:218 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is intended to achieve the 0.7% target of GNP for overseas aid by 2007. [13863/03]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:224 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of the Government's overseas development assistance; his views on whether this should be presented as a percentage of GNP; if he is committed to achieving the UN target of 0.7% of GNP by 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13761/03]
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:228 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the annual budget for overseas aid in 2004 will make realistic progress towards the 0.7% of GNP target for 2007. [13869/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 218, 224 and 228 together.
The Government's national programme of assistance to developing countries comprises two elements. The major component is my Department's Vote for international co-operation, €374 million in 2003. Overseas development aid is expected to total some €80 million in 2003 and elements of it are administered by other Departments.
The UN target for official development assistance is expressed in GNP percentage terms. Ireland's official development assistance is reported on an annual basis as a percentage of GNP in compliance with OECD requirements. Provisional outturn figures indicate that overall expenditure on ODA in 2002 amounted to €422 million or 0.41% of GNP compared to €320 million or 0.33% of GNP in 2001. In percentage terms Ireland is now the seventh largest donor internationally and is just behind Belgium at 0.42%. Our performance is well above the EU average.
These increases have been pursuant to the Government's commitment to achieving the UN target for ODA of 0.7% of GNP by the end of 2007.
The 2004 allocation for Vote 39 will be agreed later this year in the context of the annual Estimates negotiations.