asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will consider preparing a four year rolling programme for overseas development aid with provision for overprogramming in order to be in a position to absorb the shortfall in the take-up of moneys allocated in any given year for multilateral aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: The ODA Programme as a whole is made up of a number of elements. For some of these, financial responsibility rests with Ministers other than myself. In several parts of the programme, there is already an element of multi-year planning. For example, many of our multilateral contributions are made on a multi-year basis. On the bilateral side, projects carry over from one year to the next. I do not think that the shortfalls, which have occurred from time to time on the multilateral side of ODA, constitute a serious problem, as these can, with the exception of certain items, be appropriately transferred to other sub-heads, thereby ensuring that the out-turn is as close as possible to the allocation each year.

As far as the ODA Programme as a whole is concerned, multi-year planning is, of course, under constant consideration in the context of improving the quality of programming. I understand that the Advisory Council on Development Co-operation is considering this question also. I look forward to the outcome of their discussions and will examine whatever suggestions they may put forward very carefully indeed.

: I accept that the Minister has requested advice from the advisory council on this matter but I forecast that their advice will be similar to that given by every other voluntary agency in this area, to support in principle the concept of a rolling programme be it of three, four or five years. Is the Minister prepared in principle to accept the recommendation of the advisory council if they recommend such a programme? The Minister is more than familiar with the arguments for and against.

: I have a very open mind on this matter.

: That is my problem.

: We will give close consideration to all details. There is merit in what has been suggested by the Deputy with regard to having such a rolling programme on a multi-national basis.

: The Minister has gone to the trouble of setting up an advisory council and I should like to know if it would be too much to ask him to listen to their advice?

: I will. I await it with great interest.

: And since they are going to confirm what everybody else has been looking for in advance—I am not committing the Minister to any money—would the Minister accept their advice to introduce a four-year rolling programme? It is not a lot to ask at this stage.

: I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of my discussions with the council but I will meet the members in a constructive manner. I am going a long way with the Deputy when I say there is a lot of merit in what he has suggested.