Departmental Banking

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Ceisteanna (704)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

704. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form if possible, a list of the bank accounts used by his Department and separately any agencies within the remit of his Department; the purpose of each bank account and the financial institution the bank account is with; the total amount of any interest charged or bank fees incurred by his Department and separately by each agency in 2011 and anticipated figure for 2012; the percentage of payments issued by his Department and each agency which are issued electronically and if the Department agency has any special arrangement in place on the issue of bank charges and fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44851/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

My Department uses three Bank of Ireland Public Bank Current Accounts. Two of the accounts are used for pay and non-pay EFT (electronic funds transfer) banking for my Department and the third is used for EFT banking for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs under a shared services agreement. There is no interest charged or bank fees incurred by my Department for these accounts. All payments issued using these accounts are issued electronically.

The HSE operates 27 commercial bank accounts which it uses to expend its annual budget allocation of circa €13b. This figure is down from over 200 accounts prior to the establishment of the HSE and all are held with Ulster Bank. Approximately 82% of payments (value based) were made by EFT in 2011. Bank charges for these accounts amounted to €425,000 (fixed fee) in 2011 there are no interest charges. The anticipated bank charges for 2012 are €425,000.

As regards the other agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information is not routinely collected. These agencies would all make individual banking arrangements to manage their payroll and accounts payable functions.