Budget increases overseas aid

Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pat Breen, has welcomed the announcement in Budget 2016 of an increase in Ireland’s overseas development aid budget.

“Budget 2016 seeks to improve life for people at home in Ireland, as well as in the poorest regions across the globe. In recognising Ireland’s responsibility to the world’s most vulnerable people, Budget 2016 increases our overseas development aid budget by €40 million on last year’s figure. Our ODA budget for 2016 will be a substantial €640 million, a 7% increase in the overall budget,” said the Clare Fine Gael TD.

“Ireland has a longstanding and proud reputation as being a very generous overseas aid donor. While we have been through a very tough couple of years here at home, we did not neglect the world’s poor and continued a substantial approach to overseas development aid. Last year we ensured no cuts to the ODA budget and this year, now that we have the fastest growing economy in Europe, it is both appropriate and very welcome that we are increasing our contribution,” he added.