Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of Ireland’s plans to reach the target of 0.7% of GNI for overseas development aid; the date by which it is expected to reach the targets; the level of funding as it relates to the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10668/19]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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In its Global Ireland strategy, published in June 2018, the Government stated it would commit to delivering the United Nations target of allocating 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI), to Official Development Assistance by 2030. At the launch of Ireland’s new policy for international development, A Better World, on the 28th February, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I reiterated this commitment. A Better World provides the framework for this expansion.

Sustained, managed increments in ODA will be required to attain this commitment. Careful planning and consultation with other Government Departments and stakeholders will also be needed to ensure it is done effectively. Recognising that the point of departure is an ODA expenditure of 0.3% of GNI, it is proposed to adopt a steady and phased approach, taking into consideration the range of demands across Government and the capacity of the public finances to meet them. In order to achieve this ambition difficult choices will be required between competing priorities, especially if economic circumstances change.

The Government is already making progress, having increased allocations to ODA by 32% since 2014. Budget 2019 saw the highest increase in funding available in over a decade. Overall Irish ODA in 2019 is forecast to reach almost €817 million, an increase of approximately €110 million, or a 16% increase on the allocation announced in budget 2018.

It will also be critical to ensure that as the ODA budget grows, Ireland works to maintain its reputation, built up over many years, for delivering high quality, untied, focused and coherent development cooperation. A Better World provides the framework for continued quality Irish Overseas Development Cooperation. Regular peer reviews by the OECD DAC provide solid evidence of this reputation and in 2018 Ireland was judged by the Overseas Development Institute to be the most efficient donor in targeting extreme poverty.