Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.

Ireland’s new Policy on International Development ‘One World One Future’ affirms our commitment to poverty reduction and to the centrality of development cooperation to Irish foreign policy. The Policy focuses sharply on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa and on three goals: reducing hunger; supporting sustainable development and inclusive growth; and better governance, human rights and accountability.

As the recent budget demonstrates, Government expenditure on ODA has broadly stabilised in spite of the very difficult economic circumstances. In 2014, the Government will be providing in the region of €600 million for Official Development Assistance. This will represent a small reduction on spending in 2013. Our new Policy, which has been widely welcomed, provides a coherent framework for the prioritisation and allocation of resources across the programme to maximise impact, strengthen accountability and demonstrate value for money. It also commits to improving efficiencies and strengthening performance across all the partners supported.

Our development programme in the years ahead, as it has done in the past, will continue to save lives, reduce hunger, build livelihoods and strengthen capacity for the day when development aid will no longer be needed in many of our Key Partner Countries.