Inside Irish Aid describes how the aid programme began from small beginnings in the 1970s with a budget of £1 million and grew to a budget of €920 million in 2008 when Ireland was the sixth largest donor per head in the world. The book shows that during the years of economic prosperity Ireland did not lose sight of its traditional concern for the poor people of the world, particularly in Africa.

The work of charities such as Concern, GOAL and Trocaire is well known but their combined budgets are only a fraction of what the Government spends on development aid. Written by Ronan Murphy, who was Director General of Irish Aid for eight years, the book draws on extensive research into the often controversial issue of government aid, and includes interviews with over 70 people including former Presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson and former Taoisigh Garret FitzGerald and Bertie Ahern. Inside Irish Aid explores the reasons for Irish people's generosity towards the developing world, not only in donations but through a tradition of voluntary service going back to the missionaries.

The author concludes with a frank discussion of why aid has not delivered on its promise of bringing more people out of poverty, and returns to some of Irish Aid's partner countries to ask what lessons can be learned.