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Wednesday, 15 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 828-829

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (828)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

828. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by her Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures she has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44010/21]

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Written answers

Details of payments made under the prompt payment legislation have been published on a quarterly basis since 2018 on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/294dc7-financial-information/

As the Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017, financial arrangements for 2017 were managed by other Government Departments on behalf of my Department while formal arrangements were being put in place. Details of relevant payments for 2017 were published by those Departments as part of their reporting arrangements.

For ease of reference of the Deputy Table 1 below provides the details of payments made for the period 2018 to June 2021.

My Department’s financial guidelines issued to all staff clearly outline the procedures to be followed to comply fully with the provisions of the prompt payment legislation; these guidelines also form part of the induction programme provided to new staff as they join the Department.

Table 1

2018

2019

2020

2021 (June)

Total

Number of Payments made in excess of 30 Days that were subject to LPI and compensation costs

33

12

13

2

60

Amount of late payment Interest (LPI) paid

225.91

19.49

42.75

0.80

288.95

Amount of compensation costs paid

1660.00

480.00

610.00

79.99

2,829.99

Digital Hubs

Questions (829)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

829. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding to set up a digital hub at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44025/21]

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Written answers

The proposed investment referred to by the Deputy may be eligible under my Department's Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) which supports the revitalisation of Ireland's rural towns and villages. The scheme is administered through the Local Authorities.

This year's Scheme places particular emphasis on projects supporting remote working and enhancing town centre living as outlined in “Our Rural Future – Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025.” Under this year's scheme, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs are eligible for funding. Projects that repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working are also eligible.

I can confirm that an application for funding under this scheme was not received by my Department this year in respect of the particular investment referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy may wish to explore, with Kerry County Council, the eligibility of the proposed investment and the potential for an application under the scheme in future years.

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