asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assessment or evaluation exercises that have been undertaken in relation to development projects in Third World Countries which are financed by Irish bilateral aid.

24.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the criteria used in assessing the quality of aid provided to Third World countries from our bilateral aid fund.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.

The Deputy's questions would appear to relate to the review of projects and the criteria used in their evaluation. A series of project evaluation reviews, commencing with the bilateral aid programme in Lesotho, commenced in October 1980. For the purpose of conducting these reviews my Department have employed an economist on a special contract since June 1980. A check list of guidelines and principles, including criteria for assessment, was drawn up for the guidance of the review teams. I propose to make available to the Deputy the list of projects reviewed as well as the checklist to which I have referred.