T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Miche\u00e1l Martin has welcomed Budget 2024 as a budget that expands Ireland\u2019s global reach and reaffirms the Government\u2019s commitment to investing in Ireland\u2019s place in the world.<\/p>\n
The Department\u2019s development assistance budget for 2024 will increase by \u20ac60 million to \u20ac776.5 million, representing an 8.4% increase on the 2023 allocation. Based on current estimates, total Official Development Assistance (ODA) from across Government for 2024 will amount to \u20ac2 billion. The increase of \u20ac60 million to the Department of Foreign Affairs\u2019 ODA contribution includes a significant increase in Ireland\u2019s international climate finance contributions.<\/p>\n
T\u00e1naiste Miche\u00e1l Martin said:<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the world facing ever greater challenges from the impact of climate change, conflict and food insecurity, I welcome the increase in Budget 2024 of the Department of Foreign Affairs\u2019 development assistance budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis increase will allow Ireland to reach more people, particularly those impacted by climate change and humanitarian crisis. The provision of an additional \u20ac42.5 million in climate finance ensures that we are on schedule to meet our commitment to provide at least \u20ac225 million per year in climate finance by 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cBudget 2024 also sees continued and increased investment in supporting the Good Friday Agreement. During this time of continued uncertainty in Northern Ireland, I have announced an increase of \u20ac2m for the Reconciliation Fund, a 40% increase over 2023, bringing the total to over \u20ac7m for the first time in the history of the fund.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will also increase funding for the Shared Island Civic Society Fund by \u20ac600,000 from this Department with an additional allocation of \u20ac1.7m to be provided through the Shared Island Fund, Department of the Taoiseach, bringing the total fund to \u20ac2.5m next year. This is an initiative designed to promote practical North-South cooperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Budget sustains the investment in the Passport Service in 2024 including in staff resources and capital investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming T.D., said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis increased commitment to development assistance will allow us to further strengthen Ireland\u2019s response to hunger and malnutrition around the world.\u00a0More than 345 million people face high levels of food insecurity in 2023, double the number in 2020. Clearly this is unacceptable. Ireland has been playing a leading international role in the response.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Minister for Diaspora, I am pleased to announce an additional allocation of \u20ac1.5 million to the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, which supports Irish community organisations all over the world. This will bring the ESP initial budget allocation for 2024 to \u20ac15.395m, the highest ever, which is very fitting as we prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the programme in 2004. Supporting our diaspora remains a key priority for this Government and this budget delivers for Irish communities and for Irish heritage and culture all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister for European Affairs, Peter Burke T.D., said:<\/p>\n
\u201cDeepening our EU relationships and our influence at EU level is a central focus for the Government. Additional funding of \u20ac500,000 will be provided to increase the number of Irish Seconded National Experts in EU institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecognising that there is significant renewed momentum in EU enlargement policy as a result of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, Budget 2024 establishes a new funding scheme for projects that advance enlargement-related reforms in EU candidate countries.\u00a0An initial sum of \u20ac1 million will be allocated for this scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Miche\u00e1l Martin has welcomed Budget 2024 as a budget that expands Ireland\u2019s global reach and reaffirms the Government\u2019s commitment to investing in Ireland\u2019s place in the world. The Department\u2019s development assistance budget for 2024 will increase by \u20ac60 million to \u20ac776.5 million, representing an 8.4% increase on the 2023…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-3","description-off"],"yoast_head":"\n