Sir, – While the increase in overseas aid of €14 million announced in the budget is welcome, it has to be seen in context. Our overseas aid budget rose by €30 million in 2026, by €45 million in 2025, by €60 million in 2024 and by €177 million in 2023.
So, to use Government speak, the direction of travel is downwards and if this trend continues the budget will, at best, stay static next year.
The other factor that needs to be considered is that Ireland remains, in theory at least, committed to reaching the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GDP for overseas aid. We are going backwards with respect to this target, however.
While there is no question that there are numerous competing demands for public funding at home, where poverty is relative, there are even more demands from developing countries, where poverty is absolute.
RM Block
The suspension of USAID by the US administration has set the trend, with many larger funding nations following suit and drastically reducing their aid budgets in favour of spending on arms.
This is a trend Ireland should not, and must not, follow. We should instead continue to demonstrate Ireland’s values of co-operation and sharing by increasing our aid budget by a specific percentage of GDP year on year and until we reach, and pass, the UN target we are committed to. – Yours, etc,
GARY DOYLE,
Straffan,
Co Kildare.
