Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy asked about Mozambique. There was an issue in Mozambique about Finland postponing part of the budget, some €2 million. The Irish Government has made no decision on that and awaits our investigations on it.

There is a positive side to the situation in Tanzania. Following a banking scandal the president sacked the Government and other staff. In a separate case, two Ministers were forced to resign on an issue of corruption. There are good news stories emerging.

I meet frequently with representatives of the five major NGOs, Trócaire, Concern, GOAL, Christian Aid and Self Help. I discuss funding because it is quite substantial, particularly to the five I mentioned. The figure for the NGO sector in 2006 was €169 million.

The Deputy's final question concerned where I travelled. I was in Mozambique last September and accompanied the Taoiseach to South Africa and Tanzania in January. We discussed issues of governance and independent media, which is much developed in Tanzania. We also saw the good projects in schools, hospitals, clinics and community centres with which Irish Aid is involved. We saw the provision of water supplies, such as wells and milling projects, that are so important to the lives of ordinary people.

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