Michael Creed
Ceist:402 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the Government proposes to monitor the IMF's programme in low income countries. [24725/00]
Written Answers. - International Monetary Fund.
The Deputy will be aware that the question of IMF programmes in low income countries involves (i) the poverty reduction and growth facility – PRGF – which is a specific IMF facility and which replaced ESAF and (ii) the poverty reduction strategy papers which represent a new integrated poverty oriented approach and which involve, in addition, the World Bank group and a number of other players, including the government and civil society of the countries in question.
Monitoring progress in poverty reduction in the countries concerned is, therefore, wider than simply monitoring programmes related to IMF facilities alone.
In addition to the ongoing general monitoring of the situation by the institutions concerned and by the EU, I will be drawing specifically on our representatives at both the IMF and the World Bank. I am also availing of the expertise and feedback available through the Department of Foreign Affairs who have personnel working on the ground in many of the least developed, and particularly in our priority countries.
In addition, I welcome contributions and feedback from the NGO community in this country, many of whom also have a presence on the ground in these countries.