OVER 80 per cent of people believe that even in an economic downturn the Government should deliver on aid commitments to the world’s poorest people, according to poll published today by Dóchas.
The poll, commissioned by Dóchas – the umbrella representative body for development NGOs – also found 79 per cent agreed it was important for Ireland’s reputation to keep the promise that 0.7 per cent of national income should be given to overseas aid by 2015.
The survey of 1,000 adults was carried out by Ipsos/MRBI in July and found younger people in particular agreed Ireland should deliver on its 0.7 per cent commitment. Support was lowest among retired people.
Some 83 per cent of students agreed it was important, while 90 per cent of 15- to 24-year-olds and 82 per cent of Dubliners did.
“Even when reminded of the context of the economic downturn in Ireland, the vast majority of respondents feel that Ireland has an obligation to invest in overseas aid,” says Dóchas in its commentary on the findings.
The survey was also carried out last year and this year’s findings represent a slight drop, from 84 per cent last year, in national support for overseas aid.
In 2000 the then government pledged that policy would be to reach the UN target for spending 0.7 per cent of GNP on overseas aid. The original target of 2007 was revised to 2012 and then 2015.
Ireland’s aid budget currently stands at €671 million, or 0.52 per cent of GNP, down from a high of €921 million in 2008.
