Over 750 providers are currently in arrangements with my Department to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. My Department has expended over €890m on Ukraine accommodation and related costs since the invasion of Ukraine and the start of refugee arrivals in 2022. This year, my Department has paid out almost €380m to date, the bulk of this going on accommodation. This has been paid out on a weekly basis, rising steadily over time. In the last two months, my Department has paid out in the region of €30m weekly on average on Ukraine accommodation.
Delays are being experienced in processing invoices mainly due to the volume involved. Any delays in processing payments are deeply regretted and those in financial hardship are being prioritised and a process exists for identifying these providers. My Department is working rapidly to process all invoices received, with additional resources assigned to payments. This includes outsourcing elements of the process.
I am committed to ensuring that invoices are honoured in a timely fashion while also ensuring that appropriate scrutiny of invoices in performed to prevent erroneous invoicing and processing and to ensure that appropriate accounting procedures are followed.
Providers are permitted to invoice each month in advance for certain services. Dozens of Invoices are submitted to my Department in a typical day and there will always invoices on hand to pay. The Department’s current system does not readily capture the information breakdown sought by the Deputy on the numbers and amounts by month overdue.
The Department intends to overhaul its payment process in the coming months and plans are at an advanced stage to commence implementation. This is expected to also enable better reporting on payment status.
