Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the expected level of funding that will be provided in his Department's budget for overseas aid in budget 2015; and if the commitment to provide overseas aid at a level of 0.7% of GNI by 2015 will be fulfilled. [37452/14]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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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”, 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. Since coming to office, this Government has managed to successfully stabilise the budget for development assistance. This is a significant achievement, in extremely difficult budgetary and fiscal circumstances. In 2011 we provided €657 million for ODA, and between 2012 and 2013 our allocation to ODA increased slightly from €629 million to €637 million. For 2014 we expect to provide in excess of €600 million for ODA.

These are substantial allocations of public funds and provide clear evidence of our support and commitment to the aid programme. They also represent a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people in assisting those less fortunate than ourselves.

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 next. The Deputy will appreciate I am currently not in a position to announce the 2015 ODA budget, but as I have repeatedly 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.