Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is tracking and assessing the effects and consequences in the various programme countries that the cuts in the overseas development budget have had to date in 2009. [31764/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's aid programme, Irish Aid, is recognised internationally for the priority it attaches to the reduction of poverty and hunger in the least developed countries, with a strong focus on some of the poorest countries in Africa. The programme provides assistance to over ninety developing countries. Nine countries have been designated Programme Countries, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance, based on partnership with Governments and communities. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam and Timor Leste.

Following the difficult public expenditure decisions which the Government has had to take this year, the total budget for Official Development Assistance in 2009 will be €696 million, which will represent at least 0.48% of GNP. Of this, €571 million is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the balance of €125 million being accounted for by contributions to development by other Government Departments, and Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Cooperation Budget. Funding for direct programme budgets for the nine Programme Countries will amount to €198 million, with a further €23.4 million for significant programmes in other countries, including South Africa and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Additional assistance will be channelled to the Programme Countries through our funding for development NGOs.

In deciding on the implementation of the budget reductions across the aid programme, priority was given to the need to protect funding to our Programme Countries, to the extent possible. While adjustments have been made in all Programme Countries, we have ensured that the continuity of our programmes will be maintained. In some cases, funding timeframes have been extended and disbursement rates modified, but the planned final outputs will be delivered, even if they have to be delayed somewhat. There will be no reduction in the important technical expertise which Irish officials bring to their work with our partners.

Decisions on individual programmes have been made in full consultation with the Embassies in our Programme Countries, which have maintained a strong dialogue throughout the process with Government and other local partners. The Embassies provide regular assessments of the aid programme, with particular reference to the results which are being achieved. In addition, the independent Evaluation and Audit unit within Irish Aid maintains a rigorous schedule of evaluations and audits in Programme Countries and across the aid programme, with a view to identifying improvements in programme implementation and maintaining high standards of accountability. This is essential in order to ensure that funding is directed to those areas most in need, is used for the purposes intended and represents the best value for money.

The detailed assessment of Ireland's aid programme which was published by the OECD in April described Irish Aid as "a strong, cutting edge development programme" and stated that "Ireland is a champion in making aid more effective". It praised the manner in which Ireland's aid is delivered in consultation with local Governments and communities and noted that "its attention to local priorities is appreciated by the developing country partners with whom it works". In the difficult economic environment in which we now have to work, we are determined to redouble our efforts to ensure that the aid programme delivers clear results for the lives of those most in need.