Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I am glad that the percentage of GDP is heading in the right direction. Is the Minister confident that the money set aside is spent effectively and efficiently in promoting awareness? That is the budget that Irish Aid holds. One of the criticisms levelled at aid organisations was that they spent too much on administration and self-promoting propaganda. Most organisations have addressed that and most of the money from organisations goes to tackling the source.

Last year, a sum of €250,000, which could have been spent on saving lives, rebuilding communities and addressing humanitarian issues, was spent on circulating the summary of the White Paper on Irish Aid. Only recently, €40,000 was spent on the annual report of Irish Aid. Very few people will read this and it could have been put on a website more cheaply, with the money going directly to the source for which it was intended. Does the Minister agree with the point I am making? In this era there should be more efficient and effective spending of the money directed towards Irish Aid.

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