Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 160: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Irish aid to Africa is reaching its intended targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23937/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would like to assure the Deputy that it is of particular importance to me that Ireland's overseas aid to African countries is efficiently used for the benefit of the poor. In our bilateral Programme Countries, support is planned in close consultation with national Governments and other partners at country level. We support our partner countries' national poverty reduction plans. These plans are developed to respond to the needs of the poorest people and have a strong focus on providing basic social services such as health and education.

Monitoring of programmes and projects is carried out by national governments, donors and civil society groups on a regular basis. Particular attention is paid to progress in relation to reducing the number of people living below the poverty line and increasing access to basic health, education and water and sanitation.

In addition, Irish Aid has in place rigorous accounting and audit controls. These are essential to ensure a transparent, effective and high quality programme. Programmes are regularly audited and evaluated by independent audit firms and by the Department of Foreign Affairs' Evaluation and Audit Unit. Programmes are evaluated to ensure that funds are used for the purpose for which they are intended and provide value for money.

I am satisfied that the methods used by Irish Aid for planning and monitoring programmes, together with the audit and evaluation systems we have in place, serve to protect the funding provided. Such methods are in accordance with international best practice and the highest standards in this area.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 161: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he is satisfied that both the bi-lateral and multi-lateral aid programme is adequately efficient in terms of reaching its intended targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23938/08]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Accountability is one of the most integral elements of the Irish Aid programme. Ensuring that Irish tax payers' money benefits the most vulnerable and poorest people of the countries in which we operate is paramount to my Department.

Irish Aid funding is protected by rigorous monitoring, accounting and audit controls which are in place in all countries where we provide development assistance and such controls and systems mean that funding is directed to those areas most in need. In our programme countries, Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) are developed in consultation with the national government and in support of their poverty reduction strategy. These papers outline the programmes and projects that Irish Aid will support over a three to five year period. The strategies have a monitoring framework with indicators and targets to measure improvements in basic services. In addition, there are regular audits carried out by independent audit firms whilst Irish Aid has also its own Evaluation and Audit Unit which monitors the assistance provided.

With regard to multilateral support, Ireland is a member of, or observer on, the Boards of the main funds and programmes and participates actively in policy formulation and in the Boards' audit and evaluation activity. On the multi-donor level we increasingly work with likeminded countries such as Sweden, Denmark and the UK in the development of joint oversight arrangements.

Irish Aid is restructuring its relationship with its main UN partners through Multi-annual Framework Agreements which link Irish funding to agreed development objectives and targets. Progress is assessed annually by means of a bilateral consultation, at which staff from Irish field missions participate. These staff have direct experience of the partner organisation's performance at country level. Irish Aid has also introduced additional reporting requirements for its field missions in relation to the UN, as a means to improve oversight of our partners' country level activity.