Irish Aid Annual Report 2006

The publication of the first ever White Paper on Irish Aid in September stands out as the major event of 2006. The White Paper was the result of wide public consultation. It explains in clear terms why we give aid and provides a blueprint for our development assistance and for new initiatives at a time of considerable expansion of the Irish Aid programme.

Ireland's official development aid reached €814 million in 2006, ensuring that we are firmly on course to reach the target of spending 0.7 percent of Gross National Income on overseas aid by 2012. This will form a considerable part of our contribution to international efforts to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals. We are now the sixth highest donor in the world on a per capita basis.