Written answers

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Overseas Development Aid

5:00 pm

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a detailed breakdown of overseas development aid spending in 2009 and 2010; the amount that was allocated, by country and region, as well as programme of support and if money allocated in the years in question was drawn down. [8035/11]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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For 2010, Ireland spent €675 million on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Of this total, €521 million was administered by my Department through Irish Aid. A further €154 million was accounted for by ODA eligible expenditure made through other Government Departments, and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget.

This level of expenditure resulted in Ireland spending approximately 0.53% of its GNP on ODA - and ensured Ireland met, and indeed exceeded, the wider EU target of 0.51%.

Comparative figures for 2009 show that Ireland spent a total of €722 million on ODA, which represented 0.54% of GNP.

Ireland's aid programme is internationally recognised as being of the highest quality and having a sharp focus on poverty reduction, with hunger eradication at its core. The latest OECD review of Ireland's aid programme has described the programme as "cutting edge". Most of Ireland's bilateral ODA is directed to the least developed countries, with a particular focus on a limited number of very poor partner countries, called Programme Countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ireland's aid programme is based on the promotion of sustainable development results and has a particular focus on the social sectors of health, education, governance and addressing food security and hunger. Funding is delivered through a wide range of partner organisations including Programme Country national systems, NGOs and Missionary Organisations and UN and other international specialist agencies.

My Department is currently in the process of finalising the detailed analysis of Ireland's ODA expenditure for 2010, which will be published shortly in the Irish Aid annual report. The detailed analysis of Ireland's 2009 ODA expenditure is available in the 2009 annual report which can be accessed through the Irish Aid website at www.irishaid.gov.ie.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the mechanisms in place to ensure that overseas development aid funding is spent as intended once drawn down by the recipient, that is, in accordance with the stated objectives of the programme receiving funding. [8036/11]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Irish Aid has rigorous planning, monitoring, evaluation and audit mechanisms in place. This ensures that all funds are spent effectively and are used for the stated objectives of the programmes receiving funding.

Irish Aid planning processes have a strong results focus which identifies specific objectives and results against which Irish Aid programmes are measured and evaluated. All development aid funding is disbursed based on clear and detailed proposals in line with these specific objectives. Proposals are appraised by Irish Aid staff as well as by an independent external Programme Appraisal and Evaluation Group using a number of different criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, cost effectiveness and efficiency in the use of resources.

Programmes in receipt of funding from Irish Aid are continually monitored and assessed, by both staff in the field and at headquarters, to ensure that they are achieving results and that the intended objectives and goals are being accomplished. This takes place through regular supervision and reporting, and external reviews are also conducted as necessary.

Irish Aid programmes are regularly audited and evaluated by independent evaluation and audit firms as well as by Irish Aid's Evaluation and Audit Unit, including internal auditors based in our Programme Countries. The Unit's work is also reviewed by the Department's independent Audit Committee. These evaluations and audits provide assurance that funds are used for the purposes intended and have a particular focus on poverty outcomes and value for money.

While we are working in some of the most difficult environments in the world, I am satisfied that the monitoring, evaluation and audit systems which we have in place provide the best assurance that development aid funding is used for the intended objectives.

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the last time a value for money audit was conducted in relation to moneys allocated under overseas development aid programme. [8037/11]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The last value for money work relating to the overseas development aid programme was completed in November 2009. This was a review of Irish Aid's expenditure of €340 million devoted to HIV/AIDS programmes for the period 2000 to 2007. This report was published and is available in the Dáil Library and on the Irish Aid website.

Further value for money work is planned to be undertaken in 2011. This value for money exercise will be a review of Irish Aid's support to Concern Worldwide under the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme for NGOs over the period 2007-2010.

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