Written answers

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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478. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans towards honouring the commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/14]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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480. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out a revised plan to achieve Ireland's international target of allocating 0.7% of GNP for overseas aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36924/14]

Photo of Arthur SpringArthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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485. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on meeting Ireland's overseas aid target of allocating 0.7% of GNI. [37176/14]

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 478, 480 and 485 together.

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. Our policy on International Development, “One World, One Future”, which was launched last year, clearly states our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to making further progress towards it when economic circumstances permit.

Despite the extremely difficult economic circumstances, we have successfully managed to stabilise the budget for development assistance over the past three years. Since 2011 we have allocated a total of over €2.5 billion for ODA. We provided €657 million in 2011, €629 million in 2012, and€637 million in 2013. For 2014 we will spend some €600 million on ODA. These are substantial allocations of public funds and represent a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people in assisting those less fortunate than ourselves. They are also clear evidence of the Government’s strong commitment to the aid programme.

The estimates process for Budget 2015 is now in its finals stages. As with allocations to all Government Departments, Budget 2015 allocations for ODA will be framed in the context of our policy commitments and the overall budgetary circumstances we face. The final 2015 Budget allocation, which is ultimately a decision for Government, will be announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 14 October. As I have stated publicly, and in response to earlier Questions, I and the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade have made, and will continue to make, the strongest case possible for the allocation to the development assistance programme.

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