Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
318. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to specify which Minister brought the memos to Cabinet to approve allocations to World Bank programme IDA 18, IDA 19, and IDA 20 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5185/26]
View answerIreland is a long-standing and strong supporter of the International Development Association (IDA), one of five organisations in the World Bank Group, that we joined in 1960 when it was established. IDA is the arm of the World Bank that provides highly concessional funding through grants and very low interest rates to the poorest countries of the developing world. It is one of the largest sources of assistance for over 70 of the world's poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa, and it is the single largest donor for basic infrastructure and social services in these countries, many of which face a myriad of challenges against a backdrop of rising indebtedness and growing debt sustainability problems.
The Minister for Finance in his role as Ireland’s Governor at the World Bank Group, and on the basis of recommendations made by the Department of Finance who leads on the IDA Replenishment negotiations, approved Ireland’s contributions to the IDA18, IDA19 and IDA20 Replenishments in line with the provisions of The International Development Association Act 1960 (as amended). The contribution to IDA21 was approved by the Minister and Cabinet in addition to payments to IDA18, IDA19, and IDA20.
