Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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441. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to monitor aid distribution throughout Africa and other locations with a view to ensuring high standards in respect of distribution and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38233/14]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, I am acutely aware of the need to ensure that our development assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries and makes a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest people. Ireland’s aid programme has always had a strong poverty focus and the new development policy “One World One Future” will strengthen that focus and adjust it to the changing context in developing countries. Our aid programme is recognised internationally as one of the most effective in reaching the poorest.

Ireland directs the greater part of its assistance to some of the neediest countries in the world. Approximately 80% of our bilateral assistance goes to Least Developed and Low Income countries and to Africa. Programmes funded with this aid are designed and monitored to ensure that our support reaches the intended beneficiaries. They are appraised by Irish Aid staff using clear criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability and cost effectiveness. The programmes are subject to regular internal and external monitoring and are evaluated and audited by independent experts, as well as by my Department’s Evaluation and Audit Unit. Qualified Irish and local staff manage in-country aid programmes and ensure that both financial and results reporting by partners is satisfactory. Having a presence on the ground in our partner countries ensures that the management of partners and the dialogue with partner governments are effective. Programme monitoring visits are carried out regularly to assess that funds are appropriately used and programme objectives met.

Robust accountability systems in Partner Countries are essential to ensuring that development assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries. Ireland strongly supports the strengthening of these systems. We provide assistance to national Government oversight institutions, such as the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committees of national Parliaments, to ensure Governments are held to account for the effective expenditure of public funds, including overseas development assistance. Our own management and oversight systems are continually under review to ensure that Irish development funding goes to those most in need, and that we meet the highest standards of accountability.

We will continue to encourage and work with all our partner governments, NGOs, multilateral organisations and others to ensure that they adhere to the high standards of accountability and transparency promoted by the Irish Government.