Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to ensure value for money with the overseas development aid budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21691/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister of State with responsibility for our overseas aid budget, I am deeply conscious of the need to ensure value for money and impact on the ground in terms of poverty reduction.

I can assure you that the aid programme has in place a comprehensive programme of appraisal, planning, audit, and evaluation to ensure that funds are spent effectively and benefit the most vulnerable and poorest people of the countries in which we and our partners operate.

Our systems seek to maximise aid effectiveness and poverty impact, and ensure value for money. Proposals are appraised by Irish Aid staff using a number of different criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, cost effectiveness and efficiency in the use of resources.

The Irish Aid strategic and annual business planning processes have a strong results focus which identifies specific results against which Irish Aid programmes are measured and evaluated. Programmes are continually monitored and assessed by both staff in the field and at headquarters to ensure that they are achieving results and that intended objectives and goals are being accomplished. External reviews are also conducted as necessary.

Irish Aid expenditure is subject to rigorous accounting, evaluation and audit controls. Programmes are regularly audited and evaluated by independent audit firms and by Irish Aid's Evaluation and Audit Unit. The Unit's work is also examined by my Department's independent Audit Committee. These audits and evaluations provide assurance that funds are used for the purposes intended and have a particular focus on poverty outcomes and 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 ensure value for money. Such methods are in accordance with international best practice and the highest standards in this area.

The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Peer Review of Ireland's Aid Programme, published last month, highly commended the quality and effectiveness of the Irish Aid programme. The Report stated that Ireland was a champion of aid effectiveness.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he has had with a bank (details supplied) in terms of constructing an appropriate response to the impact of the global economic crisis on sub-Saharan Africa. [21830/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The global crisis is beginning to adversely affect developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa growth in 2009 is currently projected to fall to 1.7%. This follows years of solid growth. There is a real risk that cuts in public expenditure will reduce the provision of basic services in health, education and agriculture and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) could be reversed.

The Government's official overseas development programme, Irish Aid, is working internationally with our donor partners and in our priority Programme Countries to build joint responses to the crisis by agreeing on fast-acting measures that limit the impact on poor people and protect progress towards the MDGs.

The EU has just agreed a series of measures to support developing countries in coping with the crisis. These include the frontloading of the €1bn Food Facility and the establishment by the Commission of a special mechanism, which will provide rapid funding to support social protection measures in 2009 and 2010.

Ireland is not a member of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Irish Aid co-funds many programmes, including in health, education and agriculture, with the AfDB in our Programme Countries. Our Programme Country based staff are engaged with Governments and other donors, including the AfDB, to ensure that the provision of basic services, and other programmes critical to the lives and livelihoods of the poor, are protected as our Programme Countries seek to cope with the global economic downturn. Ireland is striving to ensure that the international response adequately addresses the needs of Least Developed Countries and that the national response provides protection to the poorest people in these countries.