Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the impact of the 2011 Estimate on the overseas development aid budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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For 2011, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €669 million.Of this total, €534 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments, including Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. The 2011 allocation ensures our ODA effort is stabilised at approximately 0.52% of GNP which remains ahead of the EU average. In the context of our very difficult economic circumstances, I believe this is a significant achievement, and clear evidence of our commitment to the fight against global poverty and hunger. As I have stated many times the stabilisation of our public finances and the return of economic growth are the best foundations for restoring growth to the development aid programme.

The Government's aid programme is the Irish people's aid programme.We are proud of its strong international reputation for quality and effectiveness and in particular for its sharp focus on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa. I am determined to maintain the high quality of our aid programme and ensure that we continue to deliver a programme that has maximum impact and is rigorously focused on achieving clear results for the lives of the poor and the hungry.

Ireland has provided international leadership on the issue of hunger and nutrition over the last two years. The recent publication of the Report of the Hunger Envoy has outlined clearly the achievements to date. These achievements have been lauded by other donor partners, particularly the United States, and by many of our own NGOs, including Dochas, the umbrella body for key NGOs. Next year's ODA budget will ensure that we continue to save lives and rebuild livelihoods in some of the poorest countries in the world, including those affected by conflict.