Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which various aid programmes continue to target the areas of most need, worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15696/15]
View answerI am acutely aware of the need to ensure that Ireland’s development assistance is appropriately targeted so that it makes a real difference in the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Ireland’s official aid programme, Irish Aid, has always had a strong focus on the fight to end extreme poverty, and this commitment is central to our international development cooperation policy “One World One Future”. In this policy, the Government commits to very regular assessment of our efforts in developing countries to ensure that we are delivering the most effective results for those experiencing greater degrees of hunger, fragility and instability, because of conflict, disaster or the harmful effects of climate change. Ireland directs the greater part of its assistance to some of the poorest countries in the world. Approximately 80% of Ireland’s bilateral assistance goes to Least Developed and Low Income countries and to Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa remains our priority region of focus. The selection and continued engagement in key partner countries is shaped by a number of key decision-making factors including the level of poverty, fragility and inequality in the country.
Programmes funded with this development assistance are designed and monitored to ensure that our support is appropriately targeted and reaches the intended beneficiaries. They are appraised by the Department using clear criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, and cost effectiveness. Programmes are subject to regular internal and external monitoring and are evaluated and audited by independent experts, as well as by my Department’s Evaluation and Audit Unit.
Robust accountability systems in partner countries are essential to ensuring that development assistance is appropriately targeted to reach the poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries. Ireland strongly supports the strengthening of these systems. Our own management and oversight systems are regularly under review to ensure that Irish development funding continues to be provided to those most in need, and that we meet the highest standards of accountability.
We continue to work through a variety of bilateral and other aid delivery channels in partnership with national authorities, local communities, NGOs, and key multilateral partners such as the United Nations. This mix of aid channels globally and in our partner countries ensures that, despite the changing and sometimes challenging contexts where we have to work, we make the utmost effort to target our aid towards the very poorest.
Our aid programme is recognised internationally as one of the most effective in this regard. The OECD Peer Review of the programme last year noted that our international development policy provides a sound rationale and basis for making decisions on where to focus Ireland’s official development assistance. It stated that the policy and our related strategies help ensure that Irish aid targets poor people and gets assistance to where it is most needed.
