Cathal BarryForeign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has welcomed the Government’s decision not to reduce the budget for official development assistance (ODA), for the first time in six years.
Minister Flanagan said the Government had demonstrated its commitment to fighting global poverty and hunger, through Irish Aid, by protectingthe budget for the aid programme and ensuring no further cuts.
Trócaire’s Executive Director Éamonn Meehan said: “It is positive that there is no cut to the Government's overseas development allocation for 2015 – after disproportionate cuts of more than 34% since 2008. However with the Irish economy growing, it is disappointing that Ireland is now further away from reaching its international commitment of delivering a UN target of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on vital development assistance.”
The Government has allocated just over €600 million for overseas development aid.