The bulk of emergency aid committed by the Government to help cope with the Mozambique flood disaster had originally been allocated to long-term development in a province of the now-stricken country, the House was told.
Responding to concerns voiced by Mr Shane Ross about the slowness of the international response to the catastrophe, Ms Liz O'Donnell, the Minister with responsibility for Overseas Development, said this country had committed £1.4 million in aid to assist in the emergency and rehabilitation phases of the crisis.
"We are co-ordinating our response with the aid flowing in from other countries and concentrating on meeting the priority needs of the thousands of displaced people. Yesterday I announced an allocation amounting to £1 million.
"Originally, these funds were allocated to long-term development activities in the province of Inhambane, one of the areas worst affected by the current emergency. Unfortunately, these activities have now had to be deferred because of the devastation caused by the floods. This money will now be reallocated for emergency and rehabilitation assistance."