Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Department is extremely satisfied with the nature and focus of the programmes and projects run by Self Help in Africa. As I publicly stated myself and through my officials, however, we are dissatisfied with the internal warring feud that is ongoing for almost a year within its board in Ireland and between the chief executive officer and certain members of the board. This is not something that is happening behind closed doors; it has been reported in the newspapers. This causes Irish Aid to pause and be careful. I am frequently told in this House that we must have effective systems of evaluation and monitoring so that we can be sure the money we dispense is spent effectively. That is our primary concern. Anybody who would ignore such a situation in a charity predominantly funded by Irish taxpayers through Irish Aid would be accused of negligence.

Self Help was included in our first three-year multiannual programme scheme, MAPS 1. The development of the second multiannual programme scheme, MAPS 2, is nearing completion but no organisations have yet qualified and been accepted for it. Several are currently seeking to meet the criteria to graduate to MAPS 2. This is a five-year multiannual programme in keeping with the Green Paper's commitment to extend more predictability to our partners.

I have written to the board and chief executive officer of Self Help to indicate that we cannot continue discussions in regard to its application to be part of MAPS 2 while this particular situation is ongoing. Our concerns relate to the corporate governance of Self Help in Ireland rather than to its work in Africa, where its programmes are well run and well evaluated.

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