Overseas aid cutbacks decimate Trócaire projects

TRÓCAIRE has said projects in at least 23 countries will have to be curtailed or scrapped ahead of possible cuts by Government to Overseas Development Aid.

Ahead of the launch of its pre-budget submission today, the aid organisation’s director, Justin Kilcullen, said the Government had cut the aid budget by 24%, compared with the next largest cut of 12% at departmental level, in the Department of Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The effect of any further cuts, he said, would be to deprive the most vulnerable and desperate of much needed care, such as children learning to walk again after years of chronic starvation, and HIV orphans.