The vast majority of Irish people believe the State should continue to invest in overseas aid in the developing world, even during an economic downturn, a survey has revealed.
The Ipsos MRBI survey, conducted in July 2015, found that eight out of 10 Irish people want the Government to deliver on its commitment to achieving the UN’s target of spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The opinion poll shows 79 per cent of Irish people believe that, even in times of recession, the State has an obligation to provide overseas aid.
The figure marks an increase of 4 per cent on 2014.
When asked what proportion of the State’s income is currently spent on overseas aid, respondents significantly overestimated the Government’s ODA spending.
Participants believed that up to 9 per cent of the national income was spent on overseas aid, 23 times higher than the actual figure of 0.3 per cent, or 39 cents out of every €100 spent.
The poll was conducted among 1,000 people in Ireland over the age of 15 and was commissioned by Dóchas, the network of Ireland's overseas development NGOs.
‘Strong public support’
Dóchas director Hans Zomer said the survey reveals the "strong public support" for the State's overseas aid programme and "the principle that, no matter what happens here at home, we have a duty to our fellow human beings who are in need of support and protection.
“This research provides an important reminder to the Government as it prepares Budget 2016 that people in Ireland believe we have an obligation to help those less fortunate than us.
“This is not about feeling good about ourselves; this is about keeping our promise to the world.”
A Eurobarometer survey conducted earlier this year found that Irish people were the third most likely in the European Union to consider helping people in developing countries as "very important".
The Irish overseas aid budget has fallen by 30 per cent in recent years, having hit a high point of 0.59 per cent of GNP (€920 million) in 2008.
It is expected to come in at some 0.43 per cent of GNP, or just over €600 million, this year.
