Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. My purpose for raising this matter on the Adjournment was to ensure that it is given the necessary political weight. Next year will be an important one in terms of deciding out future in overseas development aid with the publication of the White Paper. I am putting down a marker that this country and this Government has an obligation to ensure that we invoke the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in all the work we do, and that includes development aid. I echo the Minister's sentiments and call on various disability groups that would be exercised in this regard to engage in the public consultation process as the end result will be important in terms of the future development of this programme.

Does the Minister have a ballpark percentage figure of the budget channelled specifically to projects involving people with disabilities? It is probably difficult to pin it down but do her officials have any ideas on that? Is it one third or 20%? Are any concrete figures available?