Written answers
Thursday, 6 March 2014
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Overseas Development Aid Expenditure
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total funding allocation and the likely percentage of GNP he plans for overseas development aid for 2014 to 2016, inclusive, in view of the commitment in the programme for Government to provide 0.7% of GNP by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11449/14]
Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on foreign aid targets for 2014 to 2016, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11460/14]
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.
The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. This commitment was made clear in our Programme for Government and underscored last year in our new policy for international development - One World One Future -which set out our vision for a sustainable and just world in which people are empowered to overcome poverty and hunger and to fully realise their rights and potential.
Over the past three years the Government has managed to largely stabilise allocations to Official Development Assistance (ODA). This has been a major achievement, particularly when viewed in the context of the challenging economic and budgetary constraints we have faced. For 2014, the Government has allocated almost €600 million to ODA. This is a significant level of funding by any standard, and a further clear indication of our strong commitment to the programme. On current estimates, we expect the 2014 allocation to equate to some 0.43 % of GNP.
As with all major exchequer spending programmes, the annual budget for ODA is ultimately a matter for the Government and is announced by the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform on budget day. Our new policy clearly states that the Government remains committed to moving towards the UN target for ODA of 0.7% of GNP as soon as economic circumstances permit.
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