Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [34737/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, and the agencies under the aegis of the Department, i.e. the Citizens Information Board, Combat Poverty Agency, Family Support Agency, Pensions Ombudsman and Pensions Board, have not paid in advance for any works or services that will not be commenced before the end of the 2007 financial year (i.e. 31 December 2007).

All procurements are carried out in accordance with EU guidelines, Department of Finance guidelines, and my Department's Operational Guidelines to ensure procurement best practice and value for money. Guidelines state that no monies are to be paid in advance of deliverables. In all instances a Project Manager is in place to manage and monitor the external service provision, and payments are only made when work is completed and in accordance with the agreed contract.