Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of producing and distributing to every household in the State — every day he is helping the world's poorest people — a summary of the Government's White Paper on Irish Aid recently. [10452/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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This mail-out of the 'Summary of the Government's White Paper on Irish Aid' to every household in the country is taking place in the context of the need to strengthen public awareness of the aid programme, as outlined in the White Paper and in debates in the Dáil and Seanad. Throughout the extensive consultation process preceding publication of the White Paper, this emerged as an important concern for Irish people. Ensuring public awareness of the aims and activities of the aid programme will be all the more important as the level of resources committed to overseas development increases.

The Government has made real commitments to overseas development, both in terms of spending and quality. These are commitments that I and the Government are very proud of. We have a responsibility and a duty to let Irish taxpayers know how and where we are spending their money. The need to build broader public understanding of our spending in Irish Aid is all the more important given that ODA, by definition, is spent abroad and not here in Ireland.

The public reaction to date to the White Paper and the summary booklet has been very positive. As all the costs involved in designing, printing and distributing the summary have not yet been fully calculated, it is not possible to give a final figure at this time.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the administration of Irish Aid funds to Mozambique; the person overseeing the application of these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10421/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Irish Aid established a programme of development cooperation with Mozambique in 1996. The central goal of the programme is to assist the Government and people of Mozambique in reducing poverty, through the implementation of the national poverty reduction plan. The Development Cooperation Directorate in the Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the administration of the overseas development programme and the conduct of Irish development policy. The Embassy in Maputo, under the direction of the Ambassador to Mozambique, oversees the implementation of the programme in that country .

In common with all funds available to Irish Aid, those allocated for the development programme in Mozambique are managed in accordance with proper accounting principles and in a manner compliant with Department of Finance Public Financial Procedures. The programme conforms to the standards of best international practice. There are strong, comprehensive monitoring and evaluation processes in place which act as a quality control on the programme and ensure that our assistance makes a real difference to poor people's lives.

In 2007, a budget of €31 million has been allocated for the Mozambique country programme. Additional funds are also provided through the Clinton Foundation for HIV/AIDS, through Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), missionaries and local organisations for their community- based programmes. In total, it is estimated that Ireland will deliver approximately €45 million in 2007.

Ireland is targeting those sectors which have the greatest impact on poverty — health, HIV/AIDS, education, rural development, public sector reform and governance. Irish Aid also provides support to the administrations of two of Mozambique's poorest provinces, Niassa and Inhambane.