Aid target failure a 'national disgrace'

THE Government's failure to meet its overseas aid target and the lack of any provision for promised extra gardaí in the Book of Estimates were criticised last night.

The lack of a full capital programme for many areas including health, education and transport was also seized on by the opposition as evidence of Government incompetence.

Labour finance spokesperson Joan Burton said the "abandonment of the commitment to the 0.7% target for Overseas Development Aid was a national disgrace".