The €84 million increase in overseas development spending announced in this week's Budget shows that the issue remains a priority for the Government despite a tightening of the public purse, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has said.
The increase means €914 million will be spent on overseas development next year, ensuring the Republic remains on course to reach the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of gross national product on aid by 2012.
Mr Ahern said it was "very gratifying" that, in spite of a "contracting exchequer situation", Minister for Finance Brian Cowen had allocated an increase in funding that would ensure the Republic retains its place as the sixth-most generous donor state in the world in per capita terms.
"The Minister fully accepted that we had made a commitment to the Third World and we should keep that commitment," he added.
He said the extra resources would go towards several projects planned by Irish Aid, the Government's overseas development division, including the setting up of Ireland's ninth bilateral aid programme in Malawi and the opening of an information centre on O'Connell Street, Dublin.
In addition, €20 million is to be allocated to the Irish Missionary Resource Service, a group representing missionary organisations.
Mr Ahern said the funding would also help improve accountability mechanisms.