Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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479. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, with Ireland's 2015 ODA allocation standing at 0.36%, he is aware that in reality Ireland has been moving away rather than towards the target since 2008; the way in which he proposes to start reversing the widening gap between actual allocation and target in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27072/16]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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480. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to develop a strategy for reaching the ODA target in view of the fact sustaining progress towards 0.7% requires a multi-annual plan and currently there is no such plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27073/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 together.

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, clearly 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.

In the very difficult economic circumstances of recent years, the Government’s aim was to stabilise and protect allocations to ODA. In that period, annual contributions in excess of €600 million were made for ODA. We also consistently stated that we would make progress towards the 0.7% target once economic conditions allow.

As the economic recovery consolidates and strengthens, we have begun to make progress on that commitment. For 2016, the Government provided a total of over €640 million in ODA, an increase of €40 million, or almost 7% on the 2015 budget allocation. The 2016 allocation represents the first substantial increase in the aid budget in over seven years and was set to deliver an ODA/GNP percentage target of approximately 0.36%. However, as final GNP 2016 outturn is now expected to be significantly ahead of the 2016 budget day forecasts the ODA/GNP percentage will inevitably be somewhat lower than projected.

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 0.7% target by 2030.

The 2017 Estimates process is currently in progress, and 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.