Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Expenditure

11:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the support for Irish emigrant groups will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26689/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, 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 €15.183 million, the record funding allocated to the Programme in 2008 is three times greater than that allocated in 2004, and represents a fifteen fold increase over the past decade.

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 will help to ensure that taxpayers' funds have an even greater beneficial impact in the future. In this regard, since the Review's publication, the Irish Abroad Unit has worked to formalise the Programme's monitoring and evaluation systems. This year, for example, the grant application process for Britain and the United States has been handled on-line, with applicants required to outline clear objectives and performance outcome indicators. Overall, the Review has helped to enhance the Programme's systems of monitoring and evaluation, and to ensure that Government funding continues to be directed to organisations that reach the most vulnerable Irish people abroad.

Overall, the Value for Money and Policy 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. By working progressively to implement the Review's key recommendations, the Irish Abroad Unit is ensuring even greater efficiency is achieved in the future.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: 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 will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26690/08]

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the automated passport project will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26691/08]

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of development aid to Mozambique will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26692/08]

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the value for money review of the HIV and AIDS budget line will be complete; the value of the anticipated savings to the Exchequer due to the implementation of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26693/08]

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 to 458, inclusive, together.

The position with regard to the Value for Money Reviews referred to by the Deputy is as follows: Emergency and Humanitarian Assistance The Value for Money Review of Irish Aid's emergency humanitarian response to a selected disaster focused on the 2004 Asian Tsunami. The 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 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.

The report also recommended that Irish Aid should request evaluations of all humanitarian programmes to which it is contributing, and make all grants above €300,000 conditional on such an overall and external programme evaluation being undertaken and submitted. While this will help to inform the evaluation process, the reality is that the vast majority of humanitarian contributions are to multilateral organisations such as the United Nations funds and agencies, and the Red Cross, which already carry out evaluations of the effectiveness of their humanitarian programmes.

Passport Service

The Value for Money Review of the Passport Service is expected to be completed this month and published in the near future.

Mozambique Development Programme

The Value for Money Review of Development Aid to Mozambique was published in February 2008. The Review found the Programme to be satisfactory in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. It made a number of useful recommendations to ensure that the Programme continues to be managed in an efficient and effective way. In order to enhance efficiency, the Review recommended that Irish Aid should consider concentrating the Programme on a more limited number of sectors. In response, Irish Aid's most recent Country Strategy Plan for Mozambique has identified specific priority areas on which support is to be focussed.

HIV/AIDS Budget Line

The Review of the HIV and AIDS budget line is currently in progress and will be completed and published by the end of 2008.

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