Written answers

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Aid

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

177. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the 0.7% international aid commitment will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47811/22]

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In Budget 2023, the Government has made provision for the largest ever allocation to Official Development Assistance:  over €1.20 billion, an increase of 17% on the 2022 allocation. The overall increase of €177 million includes €100 million for Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

2022 was the first time Ireland’s development assistance budget surpassed €1 billion. The further large increase in the volumes of our ODA for 2023 is a demonstration of our commitment to reaching the ODA target of .7% of GNI.

Continued and steady annual increases in ODA will be needed to reach the 2030 target. In the context of competing budgetary pressures, such increases are an important statement by the Government of Ireland's solidarity with the developing world.

Ireland's development programme has a strong global reputation. This reputation was confirmed by the OECD in its 2020 Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance.  The need to continue to increase the allocation to ODA in GNI percentage terms will also take account of the need to manage responsibly the large increases required, so that the quality of Ireland's programme is maintained.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.