Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
562. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a payment will issue to a centre housing asylum seekers (details supplied) in view of the fact that the contract with this provider states that they will be paid in advance and that they have not yet received the April or May payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22547/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.
With regard to the service provider referred to, who is contracted for accommodating those fleeing the war in Ukraine (Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection (BOTPs)), I am advised by my officials that one of the outstanding invoices referred to in the Details Supplied is currently being processed for payment and a payment is expected to issue in the coming weeks pending final checks. With regard to the provider’s current period invoice, my officials will be engaging with the provider regarding our requirements to submit a valid invoice. Once a valid invoice is received we are committed to processing it in a timely fashion.
My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.
