Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1029. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will pay a contractor (details supplied) in Cork for accommodation and services rendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27328/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, 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.
Every effort is being made to pay businesses as promptly as possible in respect of Ukraine accommodation. The Deputy will be aware of the challenges involved given the scale of accommodation provision (now standing at 64,000 serviced and emergency accommodation beds provided).
Payment of invoices by my Department is governed by the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 as amended by Statutory Instrument 580 of 2012, which took effect on 16 March 2013 and transposes EU Directive 2011/7/EU on Combating Late Payment in Commercial Transactions. As such prompt payment interest is payable and has been paid as necessary to providers by my Department.
With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that they are engaging with the supplier around the outstanding Purchase Orders and subsequent invoices referred to in the Details Supplied. Payment of the outstanding amounts is expected shortly after these queries have been resolved.
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.
