Warning over red tape for overseas aid

TCM - Tuesday, July 22 04:11 pm

Red tape must not delay overseas aid in reaching needy projects in developing countries, the Dil's spending watchdog warned today.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also said that NGOs and missionaries need to be given an official role in distributing funds because of their local knowledge and experience.

Members of the all-party PAC visited Irish Aid-funded projects in South Africa and Zambia during a week-long fact-finding trip in May.

Launching a report on the issue, PAC chairman Bernard Allen said: "Where Irish Aid is working with Third World governments, red tape and bureaucracy must not delay funds from getting to where they are most needed, and administration costs must not cut into the budget."

The Government will be allocating €914m in overseas aid this year to nine donor countries as well to missionaries, NGOs and UN and European organisations.

The PAC also said it had concerns that structures within Irish Aid were being decentralised from Dublin to Limerick at a time when annual allocations were being increased rapidly.

The 12-member watchdog will now send its report to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan who will issue a response to its recommendations.

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