Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government strategy to meet its programme for Government commitment of increasing the overseas development aid budget to 0.7% of GNP by 2015; if he will outline any investigation into the misuse of ODA funds this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37718/14]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy on International Development, restates our Programme for Government commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to making further progress towards it when economic circumstances permit.

Over the past three years, despite the extremely difficult economic circumstances, we have managed successfully to stabilise the budget for development assistance. Since 2011 we have allocated over €2.5 billion for ODA, providing €657 million in 2011, €629 million in 2012, and €637 million in 2013. For 2014 we are likely to spend in excess of €600 million on ODA. These are substantial allocations of public funds and are clear evidence of the Government’s strong commitment to the aid programme.

The estimates process for Budget 2015 is now in its finals stages. As with allocations to all Government Departments, the 2015 allocation to ODA must be framed in the context of our policy commitments and the overall budgetary circumstances we face. The final allocation is ultimately a decision for Government and will be announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 14 October next. However, as I have repeatedly stated publicly, and in response to previous Questions this week, I and the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade have made, and will continue to make, the strongest case possible for the allocation to the development assistance programme.

As the Deputy is aware our aid programme is implemented in challenging, complex and indeed, inherently risky environments. To mitigate against those risks, my Department has a comprehensive system of internal controls in place including a strong internal audit function which is overseen by an independent audit committee reporting directly to the Secretary General. An Internal Audit unit operates at Headquarters and Key Partner Country level and monitors the internal control systems within the Department and across partner organisations. All expenditure under the aid programme is subject to audit by the Department’s Internal Audit Unit. I can confirm that no cases have come to our attention to date in 2014 which would require the Department to carry out an investigation into the misuse of funds managed under the aid programme.