Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 7

Written Answers. - Prompt Payment of Accounts.

Nora Owen

Question:

184 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, which came into force on 1 January 1998, is being implemented by all relevant bodies and authorities under his aegis; if all systems are in place to ensure that the 45 day limit for payments is being met; if not, if interest is being paid; the complaints, if any, he has received regarding non-payment on time; if he has sought an interim report on the way in which the legislation is working during the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The three bodies under the aegis of my Department are the National Social Service Board, Combat Poverty Agency, and the Pensions Board. The legislation has been fully complied with by each of these bodies.

In relation to my Department I would point out that in excess of 6,500 payments have been made to suppliers since the inception of the Act. No complaints have been received and it has been possible to make payment on time in the vast majority of cases. In a very small number of cases interest is payable for a short number of days, and the amounts involved are small.

My Department has recently introduced a new computerised financial payments and management system. Once this system has bedded down and staff have become familiar with its operation, I am satisfied that the existing administrative systems, complemented by the new computerised system will ensure that avoidable delays will be reduced to an absolute minimum.

The operation of the Act is being reviewed on an ongoing basis since its inception, and procedures are being refined as necessary.

Nora Owen

Question:

185 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has satisfied herself that the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, which came into force on 1 January 1998, is being implemented by all relevant bodies and authorities under her aegis; if all systems are in place to ensure that the 45 day limit for payments is being met; if not, if interest is being paid; the complaints, if any, she has received regarding non-payment on time; if she has sought an interim report on the way in which the legislation is working during the last six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13241/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Implementation of the prompt payments Act by agencies/bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for those bodies/agencies. However, I have no reason to believe that the Act is not being implemented in a satisfactory manner by the bodies concerned.

As far as my own Department is concerned arrangements have been put in place so as to make payments, in so far as possible, within the 45 day limit and thereby avoiding the payment of interest. In the initial four month period to 30 April 1998, interest payments totalling some £640 arose in a number of cases in the operational areas of my Department. The organisational arrangements for payments are under examination with a view to eliminating all interest payments.