Official development aid contribution

Summary

Ireland provided £8.271 million in aid in 1978, or 0.13 per cent of GNP. The Minister said the Government was working toward the UN’s 0.7 per cent target and cited a 38 per cent increase to £14.5 million in 1979. O’Keeffe questioned the gap; the Minister called the increase a move in the right direction.

Jim O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Fine Gael

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of official development aid sent to underdeveloped countries in the last financial year: (i) in monetary terms and (ii) as a percentage of our GNP.

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David Andrews Mr. D. Andrews Fianna Fáil

Ireland's Official Development Assistance totalled £8.271 million in 1978. This represented 0.13 per cent of GNP.

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Jim O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Fine Gael

Am I correct when I say that the UN recommendation is 0.7 per cent of GNP? Have the Government any plans to increase our contribution so as to conform with the UN recommendation?

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David Andrews Mr. D. Andrews Fianna Fáil

We are working very hard to reach the UN recommendation. The figure for 1979 proves that, because it shows an increase of 38 per cent on the 1978 figure in relation to our total commitment to the Third World. The figure for 1979 is £14.5 million.

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Jim O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Fine Gael

Is not 0.13 per cent just one-fifth of the UN recommendation?

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David Andrews Mr. D. Andrews Fianna Fáil

It is a move in the right direction. It is a good figure. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has done a good job in the two years he has been in that office.

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