Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government’s deadline for reaching the 0.7% overseas development aid target; if he will consider publishing a roadmap as to the way this target will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36320/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, 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. Our policy for international development, “One World, One Future”, clearly articulates our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) in Official Development Assistance (ODA) as economic conditions allow.

In the Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target as resources permit. It is important this progress is made in a sustainable and manageable way, which continues to strengthen Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing development assistance.

During the very difficult economic circumstances of recent years, the Government managed to stabilise and largely protect allocations to ODA. Since 2011 we have made annual contributions in excess of €600 million and have cumulatively allocated over of €4.5 billion in the period 2011 to 2017. This represents a remarkable commitment of public funds towards the fight to eradicate global hunger, reduce extreme poverty and provide live saving humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable and distressed people.

I am pleased that we have been in a position to begin to increase funding for ODA, allocation an additional €40 million for 2016 and a further €10 million for 2017. The total 2017 allocation for ODA will be €651 million.

Based on current Department of Finance forecasts for GNP we are anticipating the ODA/GNP percentage outturn for 2016 to be in region of 0.3% with a similar level projected for 2017. The reduction in the percentage is largely driven by the step change in the measurement of Ireland’s GNP.

I can reaffirm our commitment to making incremental, sustainable progress towards achieving the 0.7% UN target by 2030, over the period of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted last year at the United Nations.