John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the support for Irish emigrant groups was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Support for Irish Emigrants Groups Programme, which was undertaken by Goodbody Economic Consultants, was completed in July, 2007. Copies of the Report were lodged with the Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 August 2007 and with the Value for Money and Policy Review Secretariat of the Department of Finance at the same time.

The Review was undertaken against the background of the rapid expansion in the Emigrant Groups Support Programme, in terms of financial allocations, the number of organisations funded and the geographic spread. At €15.165 million, the funding in 2007 represents an increase of 26% on last year, and a fifteen-fold increase over the past ten years. The purpose of the Review was to examine the objectives of the Programme, the economic effectiveness and efficiency with which services are being delivered, and the quality and quantity of the outputs and benefits delivered to our communities abroad. While savings to the Exchequer did not constitute a part of the terms of reference of the Review, the recommendations in it should help to ensure that taxpayers' funds will have an even greater impact in the future.

In its conclusions, the Review stated that the Programme "has made impressive progress towards its objectives of connecting vulnerable Irish emigrants to the statutory and voluntary services that they need and developing and strengthening the Irish voluntary sector and Irish communities abroad. The Programme has also made its first steps towards addressing other aspects of Irish heritage". The Review also found that the monitoring and evaluation processes for the Programme have been relatively informal to date but sufficient to ensure that it has operated well. In this regard, and in line with the growth of the programme, it recommended that a more formalised system of monitoring and evaluation be put in place. Overall, the Review painted a very positive picture of the Department's work in this area, making the point that the approach adopted has been extremely effective and efficient.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the evaluation of Development Cooperation Ireland's emergency humanitarian assistance for a selected disaster was completed; the value of savings to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33765/07]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the automated passport project will be completed; the anticipated value of savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/07]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the development aid to Mozambique will be completed; the anticipated value of savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/07]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the HIV budget line will be completed; the anticipated value of savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33768/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 416, inclusive, together.

The Value for Money Review of Irish Aid's (formerly Development Cooperation Ireland's) emergency humanitarian response to a selected disaster focused on the 2004 Asian Tsunami. The report on this VfM Review, which was an independent assessment of the appropriateness, efficiency, effectiveness and connectedness of Irish Aid's response to the tsunami disaster, was published and laid before the Oireachtas this year.

The Government committed a total of €20 million to the affected countries. The Value for Money Review concluded that Irish Aid's overall response was appropriate and strategic, and that the programme of support was managed in an efficient and effective way, with no wastage of funds. The Review also made some useful recommendations, including that, in supporting future emergencies, consideration should be given to selecting a smaller number of partner agencies with specific expertise to ensure that Irish Aid's support does not become too fragmented.

In its management responses to the recommendations, which are included in the report, Irish Aid noted that it has embarked on a process of enhanced dialogue with NGO, UN and Red Cross partner agencies for the purposes of developing better and more supportive partnerships, which will contribute to more appropriate and strategic funding relationships for future emergency responses. This approach with partner agencies is in line with Irish Aid's commitments under the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative.

The Value for Money Review of Development Aid to Mozambique is expected to be published and laid before the Oireachtas by the end of December. The Review of the HIV budget line will commence in the New Year, with the end of 2008 as the target date for completion. In agreement with the Department of Finance, the Review of the Automated Passport Project has been re-named the Review of the Passport Service, and will be completed in early 2008.