Current expenditure of GNP on overseas development aid

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current expenditure of GNP on overseas development aid; the cost based on current growth forecasts of reaching levels (details supplied) of the United Nations target for overseas development aid, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 28th February, 2017.
Ref No: 9800/17
0.34%, 0.35%. 0.36, 0.37, 0.38%, 0.39%, 0.4%, 0.41%, 0.42%, 0.43%, 0.44%, 0.45%, 0.46%, 0.47%, 0.48%, 0.49% and 0.5%

REPLY
(Minister of State, Mr. Joe McHugh T.D.)
This year the Government has allocated a total of €651 million for Official Development Assistance (ODA), an increase of €10 million on the 2016 allocation.  This is the second consecutive year we have increased the overall allocation to ODA.   
Of this total, €486 million will be managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Vote 27 International Cooperation.  A further estimated €165 million will come from other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Co-operation Budget.
This allocation represents a very substantial investment of public funds in Ireland’s aid programme and is a clear indication of our commitment to increase allocations in a sustainable manner as resources permit.   It is worth restating that  since 2011 the Government has made annual contributions in excess of €600 million to ODA, amounting to a total of some €4.5 billion  up to the end of 2017.  This is a hugely significant contribution to the fight to eradicate global hunger, reduce extreme poverty and provide live-saving humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. 
The table below sets out the potential levels of ODA required to deliver the ODA/GNP  percentage levels outlined in the Deputy’s Question. These calculations are based on the Department of Finance Budget Day forecast for GNP for 2017.  
ODA as a % of GNP      Potential ODA 2017*
0.34%              760 
0.35%              790 
0.36%              810 
0.38%              850 
0.39%              880 
0.40%              900 
0.41%              920 
0.42%              940 
0.43%              970 
0.44%              990 
0.45%           1,010 
0.46%           1,030 
0.47%           1,060 
0.48%           1,080 
0.49%           1,100 
0.50%           1,120 
* Calculated to the nearest €10 million