Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I have given the Deputy an example of four different but complementary audits. The evaluation and audit unit has a staff of ten, headed by a principal development specialist. Of these, five work exclusively in the audit area.

There are some difficulties, for example, with grants of over €300,000. We have been working with our NGO partners to resolve some of these issues. Multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and the Red Cross have effective evaluations of their humanitarian programmes. I accept lessons can be learned and that we must work more closely with the NGOs to resolve some of the issues raised.

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