36 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest estimates as to when Irish overseas development aid will reach the target of 0.45% of GNP set in An Action Programme for the Millennium and the UN target of 0.7% of GNP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16850/00]

46 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of the Irish aid budget both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GNP for each of the years 1997, 1998, 1999; and the pro jected budget for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. [16916/00]

53 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, there are to bring the level of funding for official development assistance to the UN target of 0.7% of GNP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16392/00]

103 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans if any, he has to bring international aid contributions up to the UN recommended level of GDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17034/00]

104 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of countries with which Ireland has a bilateral aid programme; the number of such countries and the likely additions, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17035/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 46, 53, 103 and 104 together.

The budget for official development assistance (ODA) has grown very considerably in recent years. However, the size of the budget relative to GNP has not made comparable progress. The explanation for this discrepancy is the exceptional GNP growth of recent years and the introduction of a new method of GNP measurement which has had the effect of increasing the nominal size of GNP. For the period 1997-99, the figures were as follows: