Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the monitoring of departmental funding for the roll-out of broadband takes cognisance of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997; if all contractors appointed under departmental funding of broadband roll-out projects adhere to the provisions of this Act. [10061/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has made any inquiries or received any information regarding disputes arising from departmental funding of broadband roll-out projects across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10062/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.

Compliance with the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, as amended by the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, is a specific requirement in all of the grant agreements drawn up between my Department and the local and regional authorities, and, in turn, of all agreements entered into by local and regional authorities and contractors in respect of the broadband roll-out projects funded by my Department. All invoices submitted for payment to my Department in respect of broadband infrastructure funding have a process time of between two and three weeks.

Disputes between contractors are a matter for the contracting authorities, that is, the local and regional authorities, and the disputing parties. This is not an area in which I have a direct function.