Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
462. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current expenditure of GNP on overseas development aid; the cost based on current growth forecasts of reaching levels (details supplied) of the United Nations target for overseas development aid in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9800/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis year the Government has allocated a total of €651 million for Official Development Assistance (ODA), an increase of €10 million on the 2016 allocation. This is the second consecutive year we have increased the overall allocation to ODA.
Of this total, €486 million will be managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Vote 27 International Cooperation. A further estimated €165 million will come from other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Co-operation Budget.
This allocation represents a very substantial investment of public funds in Ireland’s aid programme and is a clear indication of our commitment to increase allocations in a sustainable manner as resources permit. It is worth restating that since 2011 the Government has made annual contributions in excess of €600 million to ODA, amounting to a total of some €4.5 billion up to the end of 2017. This is a hugely significant contribution to the fight to eradicate global hunger, reduce extreme poverty and provide live-saving humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
The table below sets out the potential levels of ODA required to deliver the ODA/GNP percentage levels outlined in the Deputy’s Question. These calculations are based on the Department of Finance Budget Day forecast for GNP for 2017.
|
ODA as a % of GNP |
Potential ODA 2017* |
|
0.34% |
760 |
|
0.35% |
790 |
|
0.36% |
810 |
|
0.38% |
850 |
|
0.39% |
880 |
|
0.40% |
900 |
|
0.41% |
920 |
|
0.42% |
940 |
|
0.43% |
970 |
|
0.44% |
990 |
|
0.45% |
1,010 |
|
0.46% |
1,030 |
|
0.47% |
1,060 |
|
0.48% |
1,080 |
|
0.49% |
1,100 |
|
0.50% |
1,120 |
* Calculated to the nearest €10 million
