Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposed staffing increases to the Irish Aid organisation in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10403/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In the recent White Paper on Irish Aid, the Government committed to undertaking a major review of the management of the Aid programme in the light of the very substantial increase in the funding available to it. The review will embrace the financial and administrative systems, approval, monitoring, audit and evaluation mechanisms, management information systems and the management and technical competencies necessary to guide the programme through this era of growth.

The staffing requirement will be considered in the context of this management review. The review will be conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance. Its precise terms of reference are currently being considered by both Departments. A report, with recommendations, will in due course be made to Government.

Separately, sanction has already been conveyed by the Minister for Finance for an additional 20 posts in my Department's Development Cooperation Directorate which administers Irish Aid. The filling of these posts will be completed during the course of 2007.