Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the controls in place to prevent appropriation of Irish foreign aid by officials in a country (details supplied). [42522/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s official development cooperation in Mozambique is managed by the Africa Strategy, A Better World, the Government's international development policy, and the Embassy's own strategy for the period 2025 to 2030. Two strategic objectives are set out: deepening Ireland’s linkages with Mozambique and supporting inclusive and sustainable development. The Embassy has a development budget of €27 million for 2025.

Ireland does not provide general budget support to the Government of Mozambique. Instead, we work with a range of partners including the Ministries of Education and Health (co-funding with other donors such as the World Bank and European Union), local civil society organisations, international NGOs, and intergovernmental organisations like the UN and World Bank. Additionally, Ireland uses its influence in Mozambique to promote human rights, public financial management and good governance.

The Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade monitor our development spending carefully to ensure quality and accountability. The Embassy regularly reviews the management and governance systems of its main partners, requires regular audits, undertakes evaluations and Embassy staff physically monitor all projects. The Embassy also works closely with other donors and has a full-time internal auditor on its staff.