Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government has committed to making incremental, sustainable progress towards achieving the UN target of spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA by 2030. In Budget 2022, €1.044 billion was allocated to Official Development Assistance (ODA), the highest ever amount allocated by any Government. This is an increase of €176 million on the 2021 allocation of €867 million or, in percentage terms, a 20 percent increase in the overall cash allocation. The budget day estimate was that this would equate to 0.32% of GNI in 2022: the final figures are calculated at year end, when full ODA eligible spending has been agreed in a statistical exercise conducted to agreed OECD standards and are published in the Government of Ireland Annual Report on International Development.

While the increased allocation for this year is significant, sustained increases in funding will be required if the 0.7% target is to be met. My Department, which accounts for approximately 60% of ODA expenditure this year, is currently reviewing and building systems that will enable our development programme grow further, including as a proportion of GNI, in a sustainable and responsible way. This also includes working in coordination with other Government Departments and bodies involved in spending Official Development Assistance, and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, on how a growing ODA allocation can be managed most effectively and responsibly across all Departments. This work informs the path to 0.7% for 2030 considering inflation and the current trends in the economy.

My Department has previously charted out an indicative pathway to 0.7%: allocations to ODA are made annually as part of the normal budget process. The numbers in the indicative pathway will change depending on a number of factors, including annual allocations to ODA and economic growth.

Year	Potential ODA* requirement € Million**	Annual increase required	ODA/GNI % Target
2022	1,044	152
2023	1,250	206	0.34%
2024	1,525	275	0.39%
2025	1,800	275	0.44%
2026	2,125	325	0.50%
2027	2,400	275	0.55%
2028	2,700	300	0.60%
2029	3,000	300	0.65%
2030	3,350	350	0.70%

*Total ODA is estimates to the nearest 25 million.

**with the exception of 2022, these numbers are indicative and will change in accordance with future budget day allocations to ODA and evolving GNI growth.