Budget 2010 - Ireland to maintain ODA at 0.52% of GNP in 2010

Budget 2010

Ireland to maintain ODA at 0.52% of GNP in 2010

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power have confirmed the determination of the Government to maintain Ireland’s strong commitment to the fight against global poverty and hunger.

In a statement the Ministers said:

The total allocation for Official Development Assistance in 2010 will be €671 million.  On current projections, this will represent 0.52% of GNP, maintaining the level we expect to achieve for 2009. 

Notwithstanding the relatively small reduction of €25 million in the financial allocation next year, Ireland will remain one of the most generous aid donors internationally in per capita terms. 

This stabilisation in our ODA programme has been achieved against a background of enormous budgetary pressures and reflects the determination of the Government, supported by the Irish people, to help those in the world who can least help themselves.

Irish people can be proud that, despite the enormous economic difficulties over the past year, we are delivering an internationally recognised aid programme, which is sharply focused on the reduction of extreme poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries, especially in Africa. 

The Government is committed to resuming the expansion of the aid programme as economic circumstances improve.  Since 2005, we have been striving to achieve the international target of spending 0.7% of GNP on overseas development assistance by 2012, three years ahead of the EU target date of 2015.

It is now clear that the current downturn in economic circumstances will prevent us from achieving our goal ahead of the EU target date.  The Government is nevertheless committed to meeting the EU target of spending 0.7% of GNP on ODA by 2015.   In this regard, it is important to note that Ireland remains ahead of most Member States in progress towards the 2015 target and that we will exceed the interim target set by the EU of spending at least 0.51% of GNP on ODA in 2010.      

The challenge in the year ahead must be for all involved in the delivery of Ireland’s aid programme to work together more effectively, to ensure that the overall Irish contribution to development has maximum impact and is rigorously focused on achieving clear results for the lives of the poor and the hungry.

In the year ahead, Ireland with our EU partners will promote a stronger international effort to make aid work more effectively for the poorest people in the world.

Note for Editors

The Budget announced today provides €536.4 million for Official Development Assistance through Vote 29 (International Cooperation) of the Department of Foreign Affairs.  This allocation, combined with approximately €135 million from other Government Departments and Ireland’s contribution to the EU Development Cooperation Budget, constitutes Ireland’s total ODA.  In 2010 Ireland’s total ODA will be €671.4 million.

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09 December 2009

Press Office