Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Overseas Development Aid

10:00 am

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will guarantee that there will be no further cuts in the overseas aid budget in 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27557/10]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which it is expected to meet overseas development aid requirements in 2010; how this compares with 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30185/10]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which overseas development aid is likely to proceed in 2010 in view of the likelihood of increased need arising from the world economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30186/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 403 and 404 together.

For 2010, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €671 million. Based on current projections Ireland's expected expenditure on ODA in 2010 will amount to approximately 0.52% of GNP, and confirms that Ireland will remain one of the most generous donors internationally on a per capita basis.

The 2010 allocation represents a slight decrease of about €25 million on the 2009 ODA allocation of €696 million. Effectively, against a background of enormous budgetary pressures, the Government succeeded in stabilising the 2010 ODA budget at its 2009 level. This was a significant achievement, and firmly reflects the Government's continued determination, supported by the Irish people, to help those in the world who can least help themselves.

As the Deputy is aware, ODA as a percentage of GNP is the internationally recognised comparator of a country's aid effort. The UN has established a target for developed countries to spend 0.7% of their GNP on ODA. The EU has committed to meeting the UN target by 2015. Following the budget last December, the Government committed Ireland to meeting the UN target by 2015, thereby aligning us with our fellow EU Member States. Ireland remains ahead of most Member States in progress towards the 2015 target and we will exceed the interim target set by the EU of spending at least 0.51% of GNP on ODA in 2010.

As we move towards 2015, the Government will make every effort, subject to the need to stabilise our public finances, to progress to the 0.7% target.

For 2010 the Government is determined that our aid programme will continue to maintain its sharp focus on poverty reduction, concentrating on a limited number of very poor, mainly African, countries. I have just returned from visits to Uganda and Ethiopia where I witnessed for myself the excellent work being carried out on the ground by my Department, through Irish Aid and by other development organisations such as NGOs and missionaries. We are making a real and tangible difference in the lives of many and there is great hope for the future.

In the current difficult economic environment, we will work to ensure that we continue to deliver the programme so that it has maximum impact and is rigorously focused on achieving clear results for the lives of the poor and the hungry.

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