Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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All projects and programmes considered for Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) funding or support under the Reconciliation Fund grant scheme are rigorously appraised by Departmental staff using clear criteria, including efficiency in the use of resources, cost-effectiveness and intended impacts and outcomes.  Programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular 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 monies are provided in accordance with the law and are properly accounted for.

As part of its governance of the Emigrant Support Programme, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade carries out on-site audit reviews at funded organisations routinely. The FAI were selected for audit review in 2017. There is no intention at present to conduct an additional review of funding previously granted to the FAI through the ESP.

Organisations awarded grants from the Reconciliation Fund are required to meet strict reporting requirements to ensure that expenditure and progress in delivery of programmes can be appropriately monitored by the Department.  The terms of agreement under which grants are awarded also provide for auditing spot-checks on grant recipients to be undertaken by the Department each year.

In 2008, the Reconciliation Fund supported the FAI with a grant of €25,000 towards an all-island coaching conference for over 400 voluntary grassroots football coaches, organised in partnership with the Irish Football Association in Northern Ireland.  No grants were made to the FAI from the Reconciliation Fund prior to, or since, that grant in 2008, nor has an application for funding been made by the FAI in the current funding round.

Officials of my Department are undertaking a review of records relating to that grant and will follow up with the organisation as necessary, to ensure that there is full compliance with reporting requirements. I would be happy to update Deputy Murphy on progress with that review in the near future.

Applications received through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) and the Reconciliation Fund are prioritised based on how strongly they meet the criteria and objectives associated with each scheme. They are competitive grant processes, and applications received each year are considered on their merits. 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, and that strong governance structures are in place to enable delivery of the project.  Any funding application received by my Department from the FAI would be assessed in line with the established policies and grant scheme criteria and taking account of any other information which would be relevant at that time.