Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

472. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role of embassy staff in the allocation and distribution of overseas foreign aid; and the amount of such aid per embassy in each of the past five years. [15199/20]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Annual financial allocations of overseas foreign aid are approved by an Interdepartmental Committee under Vote 27 (International Cooperation). Over the past five-year period (2015 to 2019), aid expenditure totalling €740,975,324has been channelled via thirteen Irish Missions, including Embassies, in Africa, Asia and Palestine. Details are set out below.

Allocations managed by Ireland’s Missions abroad are made in line with clearly defined objectives and indicative annual budgets set out in approved Mission Strategies, normally covering five year periods.

Embassy staff play a key role in planning Mission Strategies, programming, distributing, monitoring and evaluating grants to partner organisations. A standard approach to grant management is in place in relation to all expenditure under Vote 27, including through Missions, for all grants made to partner organisations. It provides a framework for evidence-based decision-making, accountability in terms of expenditure and results and allows for a routine and rigorous consideration of risk.

This approach is aligned to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code and grant management circular (Circular 13/2014), providing structure to the manner in which value for money considerations are reflected in the allocation of, and reporting on public funds.

Expenditure of Ireland’s overseas foreign aid by mission 2015-2019: