Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Irish Aid information and volunteer centre planned for Dublin city centre will be open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is deeply conscious of the need to raise awareness and increase understanding among the public of the Irish Aid programme. The need has become more apparent in recent years, in light of the Government's commitment to reach the United Nations target of 0.7% of Gross National Product for overseas development assistance by 2012.

One of the key recommendations of the White Paper on Irish Aid, approved by the Government and officially launched in September 2006, was to establish an Irish Aid Public Information and Volunteering Centre. My Department is working closely with the Office of Public Works to get the Centre up and running. I am pleased to say that premises for the Centre have been located on Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin. The construction contract has been tendered by the Office of Public Works and the successful contractor is now on site with structural work due to be completed by mid-October.

It is intended to have the official opening of the Public Information and Volunteering Centre later in the year.