James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding for overseas development aid allocated for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34080/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is estimated that Ireland's spending on Official Development Assistance (ODA) for 2008 will reach 0.54 % of GNP. During the 2008 estimates process, the Government allocated €914 million to ODA. €814 million was allocated to Vote 29 (International Cooperation) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and an estimated €100 million to other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Cooperation Budget. This allocation, based on the then estimated GNP, was made to achieve a target of 0.54% of GNP in 2008.

As the Deputy is aware, in light of the changed economic situation, the Government reviewed current expenditure allocations across all Departments in July. The overall ODA allocation was revised to €899 million, which however continued to ensure that the target of 0.54% of GNP would be achieved. Moreover, I am confident that this will also ensure that Ireland maintains its position as the sixth most generous per capita donor in the world, which was confirmed by the OECD for 2007.