Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how the State expects to honour the commitment to allocate 0.7% of gross national income to overseas development aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/13]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will give detailed consideration to a matter relating to overseas development assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36341/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together.

The Government remains committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme. This commitment was strengthened by the publication of our new Policy on International Development, One World, One Future, which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the centrality of the aid programme to our foreign policy. The new Policy restates the commitment in the Programme for Government to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) when economic circumstances permit. Over the past two years, the Government has broadly stabilised the budget for development assistance. This is a significant achievement in the context of the very difficult conditions facing the country.

For 2013 we have allocated a total of €622 million for ODA. Of this, €497 million is managed by my Department under Vote 27 - International Cooperation. The remainder is made up of ODA eligible contributions from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget. This represents a very significant allocation of public funds, is a clear indication of our commitment to the aid programme and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an overseas civilian corps is due to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36318/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a strong international reputation for quality and effectiveness and is sharply focused on tackling poverty and hunger, particularly in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The aid programme has benefited from the contributions of generations of Irish volunteers, professionals and missionaries who have worked in the developing world. At present, the Government's aid programme supports the work of some 1,300 development workers, volunteers and missionaries in developing countries. In addition, the Rapid Response Corps operated by Irish Aid provides an opportunity for those with specific skills to be deployed swiftly in response to humanitarian crises and disasters.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a civilian volunteer corps. In line with this commitment, we plan to launch a new initiative on international volunteering in developing countries later this year. It will strengthen support for volunteering and promote civilian participation in high quality volunteer programmes that contribute to the achievement of clear sustainable development results. The volunteering initiative will reflect development needs in developing countries and increase volunteering opportunities for those, including job-seekers and retired public servants, who have skills and experience in short supply in the developing world.

At EU level, a Council negotiating position for the establishment of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative was agreed during Ireland's EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. Working closely with the Commission and Member States, Ireland sought to ensure that the draft regulation reflected the need for this initiative to be demand-driven and cost-effective, adding value to the overall EU humanitarian effort and responding to humanitarian need. The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative will provide an additional opportunity for humanitarian volunteers from Ireland to participate in EU funded humanitarian operations worldwide.