Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
134. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government targets regarding the allocation of Exchequer funds to overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29249/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA), as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and in the Programme for Government.
For 2023, the Government has provided a gross allocation to ODA of over €1.233 billion. This is the ninth consecutive year in which the allocation for ODA has increased, and the second in which the allocation has exceeded €1 billion. It includes €716 million for the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs as well as ODA contributions from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development cooperation budget.
Ireland's overall ODA figures for 2022 show the exceptional impact of eligible costs for the provision of services for Ukrainian refugees. Preliminary calculations, including eligible first-year refugee costs, show ODA at €2.33 billion, or 0.64% of GNP. None of the costs associated with the reception of Ukrainian refugees were sourced from the Government's original ODA allocation for 2022, and this will also be the situation in 2023.
Ireland's international development programme has a strong global reputation, which was confirmed in the most recent Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance, conducted by the OECD in 2020.
