Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a query regarding overseas aid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55101/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Government’s overseas development programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Irish people’s aid programme. It reflects their core values of justice and fairness and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist some of the world’s poorest communities.

Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger, and it is consistently rated as one of the most effective internationally. It is strongly focused on the poorest countries and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, prioritising investments in the areas of education, health, good governance, food security and nutrition.

The Government takes the view that our work with developing countries is morally right, but that it is also in our interests as a country with a small open economy in an increasingly interconnected world. Many developing countries have shown remarkable economic progress in recent years and our untied development assistance today will undoubtedly result in access to markets in the future. The Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade clearly recognises the role that aid has played in empowering broader economic and social development on the continent, and commits us to a comprehensive approach to Ireland’s relations with Africa – in development, politically and in the building of mutually beneficial economic links.

This year, the Government has provided some €639 million in total Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2013, it is anticipated that ODA will amount to €623 million, a modest reduction, but one which comes on top of an overall reduction in Ireland’s ODA levels of over 30% since 2008. While this is a very significant sum, it still represents slightly less than 50 cent in every €100 we will earn as a country in 2013.

The Government remain strongly committed to the aid programme and to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP for Overseas Development Assistance. However, in the current difficult economic circumstances, it is clear that further progress towards this target will only be possible when sustained economic growth has been restored to the Irish economy.