Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn has demanded a full and transparent breakdown of the true overhead and administration costs within Ireland’s overseas aid programme, following confirmation that Official Development Assistance rose from €605 million in 2022 to €775 million in 2024.
“That is a 28 percent increase in two years. When expenditure rises at that speed, scrutiny must rise with it.”
“The Department has stated that 3 percent of ODA is categorised as administration. However, this figure applies only to departmental administration and does not account for programme support costs, consultancy fees, management charges or overhead retained by implementing partners and multilateral agencies,” he said.
“The public has been given a headline figure. What we have not been given is the full picture. What is the effective overhead once all layers of administration across the system are included?”
Deputy O’Flynn has submitted further Parliamentary Questions seeking:
“If there are no benchmarks, the Minister must explain why. If there are no consolidated figures, the Department must produce them.”
Deputy O’Flynn stressed that the issue is not whether Ireland should provide humanitarian support.
“Ireland has a long-standing commitment to assisting vulnerable communities worldwide. But generosity without transparency is not good governance. Taxpayers are entitled to know how much of every euro leaves Dublin and how much ultimately reaches those in need.”
He concluded: “This is about standards. If the system is efficient, the data will show it. If it is not, it must be tightened. Either way, the public deserves clarity.”