Meeting aid goal ‘will be gradual’

Ireland looks unlikely to meet its target for spending on overseas development aid until 2030 but the Government is committed to making substantial increases earlier.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said the target of 0.7% of GNP would be reached gradually but he hoped much of the progress would be made in the next seven years rather than the last seven.

He was speaking at the publication of Irish Aid’s annual report which shows how the €615m overseas development aid budget was spent last year.