Written answers
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Overseas Development Aid Issues
Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on Ireland's commitment to spending the internationl target of 0.7% on overseas aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37454/13]
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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100. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that Ireland keeps its promise in budget 2014 to reach the international target of 0.7% of GNI by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/13]
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 100 together.
The Government is firmly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. This commitment was strengthened by the publication earlier this year 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 clearly 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 - a significant achievement in the context of the very difficult conditions facing the country. For 2012 Ireland contributed almost €629 million to ODA, representing 0.47% of GNP. For 2013 we have allocated a total of €622 million to ODA. These represent very significant allocations of public funds and a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people in assisting those less fortunate than ourselves.
The Estimates process for Budget 2014 is now well under way. The Budget will be framed in the context of the Government’s overall fiscal consolidation strategy. The Departmental budget allocations for 2014 will be a matter for Government decision and will be announced in the Budget Statement.
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