Mr David Begg, chief executive of Concern, has welcomed the Taoiseach's commitment to quadruple Irish aid to the developing world. But he said Concern would be pressing "to see firm and immediate evidence of this commitment in the forthcoming Book of Estimates".
Mr Begg said last year the public donated £14.8 million to the agency, an increase of 24 per cent on 1998.
Overall the agency had an increase in income of 35 per cent last year, to £34 million. Support from the Government grew by 14 per cent last year, he said, while EU support grew by 36 per cent and co-funding with the British government grew by 24 per cent.