Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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455. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to ensure that grant-aided organisations are spending their moneys appropriately in view of the revelations regarding a charity (details supplied) in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to concerns about organisations funded by his Department; if so, the action he has taken; if his Department has issued new procedures regarding the use of credit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46095/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and administers a number of funding schemes. A series of indicative grants to organisations is typically identified at the start of each year through the annual budgetary process. Payments are made subject to satisfactory grant appraisals. Grants to individual organisations under these schemes are made in line with agreed application and approval processes which include ensuring proper procedures are in place for the financial management of funding provided. Agreements are put place with all organisations which are awarded funding. These agreements include the amount and purpose of the grant, the activities to be undertaken, timeframe for completion, and reporting and accountability requirements.

All projects and programmes considered for funding are rigorously appraised by Departmental staff using clear criteria, including efficiency in the use of resources, cost effectiveness and intended impact. Programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular internal and external monitoring to ensure that the intended objectives and goals are being achieved. The Department’s Evaluation and Audit Unit, which is overseen by the Department’s independent Audit Committee, regularly reviews the effectiveness of the systems of internal control established by the Department to manage its grant schemes. In addition, the Comptroller and Auditor General provides independent assurance that all monies are provided in accordance with the law and are properly accounted for.

In line with my Department's fraud policy and code of practice for dealing with fraud in partner organisations, any concerns arising are brought to my attention as appropriate. I can confirm that a small number of matters of concern have been brought to my attention during 2016 in relation to organisations in receipt of funding from my Department. These instances have been dealt with in accordance with my Department’s policy and code of practice. The Comptroller and Auditor General is made aware of any instances of fraud arising.

With regard to procedures regarding the use of credit cards, the responsibility to develop appropriate guidelines, controls and procedures around the use of credit cards issued by credit providers rests with each individual grant-aided organisation.