The guarantee of funding for overseas development aid over the next few years means efforts can now be concentrated on educating people about anti-racism, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said yesterday.
The Government had been slow to respond to the need for antiracism legislation and in providing the necessary service for asylum-seekers, she said. It was only now that the Government was coming up to date in terms of the provision of services.
The Minister announced a major review of the Government's aid programme following a "massive" increase in funding. The Government has committed itself to reaching the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for overseas development aid by 2007.
Ms O'Donnell was speaking at the start of a new academic year of the Kimmage Development Studies Programme in Dublin.
She said many people in Ireland supported overseas aid but did not seem to make the connection when it came to racism at home. A more structured programme needed to be introduced in schools throughout the State.