Written answers

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Aid

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will publish a multi-annual plan with respect to overseas development aid funding outlining the way the Government proposes to move towards the 0.7% target for official development assistance over the course of next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19462/16]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. We have restated this clearly in the Programme for Government. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, articulates our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) as Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The Programme for Government sets out our ambition to making progress towards the UN Target as resources permit. It is important that such progress is made in a sustainable and manageable way which strengthens Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger.

Since 2011, Ireland has provided in excess of €3.8 billion in ODA. This has involved very significant annual contributions in excess of €600 million, at a time of great economic difficulty. Over this time, the Taoiseach and Ministers have consistently stated that we would make progress towards the 0.7% target once economic conditions allow.

Now, as our economic recovery consolidates and strengthens, we are in position to begin to make good on that commitment. For 2016, we have provided a total of over €640 million in ODA, an increase of €40 million, or almost 7% on the 2015 budget allocation. This represents the first substantial increase in the aid budget in over seven years. Our aim is to continue to make sustainable progress towards the UN target in line with the commitment we have made with our fellow EU member states to collectively reach the UN 0.7% target by 2030.

The 2017 Estimates process will commence shortly. While final decisions on next year’s budget allocation are ultimately a matter for Government, I will be making the strongest possible case for a sustainable increase in the 2017 budget allocation for Ireland’s development assistance programme.

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