This year Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of its official aid programme. Over the last five years, the volume of Ireland's official development assistance (ODA) has risen by an average of 20% a year in real terms, the most rapid growth of any of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries. Preliminary data indicate that Ireland's development co-operation reached 0.3% per cent of GNP in 1998, nearly double its 1992 level. Six DAC reviews are conducted every year. Forthcoming reviews include Norway in October, Austria in November and Australia in December. Reviews have already been released this year on Japan (April) and Denmark (March).

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©OECD Observer No 217/218, Summer 1999