Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department or any of its agencies has paid in advance for works or services that will not be commenced before the end of the 2007 financial year; the reasons for doing this; the amount of the payments; the recipients and the nature of the works or services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34727/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department has paid €300,000 to Tipperary (North Riding) County Council for the provision of roads in connection with the project of rehabilitation of disused mining areas at Silvermines, County Tipperary. This funding arises out of the 2005 Government decision to commence the project. Tipperary County Council manages the project and a certain level of prepayment is necessary as the council is not undertaking the work from its own resources.

My information is that other than contracts for the maintenance of equipment or other services, which normally include prepayment terms, my Department does not pay for works or services until after they are delivered. Subject to that, the Department does not plan to pay for works or services that will not be commenced before the end of the 2007 financial year.

Payments for works and services by State agencies, is a day-to-day operational matter for the agencies and I have no function in that regard.