Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure on overseas development aid (ODA) in 2024 and allocated expenditure in 2025; how it compares to the 0.7% target of gross national income; the cost of reaching the UN target of providing 0.7% of gross national income in ODA in incremental steps, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42838/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains committed to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) in Official Development Assistance (ODA). This is reaffirmed in A Better World: Ireland's International Development Policy, and in the Programme for Government. Allocations for ODA have consistently been increased over recent years, with a view to addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries and those living in areas affected by conflict.

Ireland's total ODA for 2023 was €2.6 billion, including eligible first-year costs for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. This represents 0.67% of Gross National Income. Excluding Ukrainian refugee costs, our ODA for 2023 was €1.47 million, or 0.38% of GNI. It is important to note that none of the funding for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland has been sourced from the original Budget allocations for ODA.

Ireland's total ODA for 2024 is expected to be in the region of €2 billion, including eligible first-year costs for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. The final calculations will depend on the retrospective calculation of some costs incurred during the year. The estimate includes the allocation by Government of €775.3 million for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This was the highest allocation ever, in the 50th anniversary year of the establishment of the Irish Aid programme.

It is not currently possible to provide a full and final figure for Ireland’s 2024 ODA, and the first reporting of preliminary figures for Ireland’s 2024 ODA will be in April 2025.

In Budget 2025, the provision for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs will increase by €35 million to €810 million, representing a 4.5% increase on the 2024 allocation. Based on broad estimates, total ODA for 2025 from across the Government, including eligible first-year costs for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland, will amount to over €2 billion.

In addition to ensuring that Ireland can continue to respond to unprecedented humanitarian need and contribute to the fight to end poverty and hunger, this funding will also ensure that we meet our commitment to provide at least €225 million annually in international climate finance by 2025.