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Concern welcomes increased Official Development Assistance in Budget 2024

Press release10 October 2023
Mary Zeon, a mother group member, showcasing the newly constructed water point to the Irish Ambassador Claire Buckley and team in Tarr Town, Liberia.
Mary Zeon, a mother group member, showcasing the newly constructed water point to the Irish Ambassador Claire Buckley and team in Tarr Town, Liberia. The water point was developed as part of an Irish Aid funded programme. Photo: Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide welcomes the increased allocations for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and climate finance, announced in today’s Budget, noting that they come at a time of great need around the world.

The Budget allocated €776.5 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs’s ODA contribution – an increase of €60 million.

The increased funding will be all divided between climate finance (€30 million with an additional €12.5 million from the Department of the Environment Climate and Communications) and €30 million for food security and humanitarian assistance.

“This funding commitment comes at a particularly challenging time with more than 362 million people needing humanitarian assistance,” Concern Worldwide CEO David Regan said.

Conflict & Climate Change

“The combination of conflict and climate change is driving hunger and the international community needs to respond. Humanitarian need is currently outpacing available resources at an alarming rate.”

Mr Regan said the additional allocation for climate finance was timely and essential.  “When you look at the impact which climate change is having on communities in recent years, from the droughts in the Horn of Africa, to the floods in Pakistan or the rising sea level in Bangladesh, you see the urgency and scale of the response that is needed,” he said.

Mr Regan said it was vital to ensure the funding is utilised is the most efficient way and has maximum impact. “Irish non-governmental organisations are uniquely placed to reach those furthest behind in some of the most difficult and complex contexts,” he added.

For media queries contact Eamon Timmins, Media Relations Manager, Concern Worldwide, at Eamon.timmins@concern.net or 087 9880524

Notes to the editor

Concern is a member of Dóchas and supported the Dóchas pre-Budget submission

 

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