Questions over aid commitments

Aid agencies have questioned the Government’s commitment to contributing 0.7% of gross national income towards overseas aid after yesterday’s budget showed no increase in funding for overseas development assistance.

The commitment is contained in the programme for government, with the additional goal of “seeking to achieve this by 2015”.

Trócaire said the figures indicated that Ireland’s percentage allocation will in 2015 fall below 0.4% — a level it has not been at for more than 10 years.