Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department, or its agencies, has paid in advance for works or services that will not be completed before the end of the 2007 financial year; the reasons for doing so; the amount of the payments; the recipients and the nature of the works or services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34877/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Almost all payments made in advance relate to Information Communications Technology (ICT).

My Department uses an extensive range of ICT hardware and software products to underpin its key operations. Some of these are off-the-shelf and some are tailored. These hardware and software products require ongoing support and enhancement to ensure their satisfactory operation and modification to meet ongoing changes to business needs.

By the end of 2007, my Department will have paid for a range of enhancement, support and maintenance services to be delivered during 2008. These are set out in the table below.

Telecommunications costs including both voice and data capacity, with the exception of call charges, are also paid for in advance.

In the case of some of these services the only contractual option available is to pay in advance. In the case of others, it is more beneficial to the Department to do so.

As part of composite billing, my Department has also paid two days (1st and 2nd January 2008) line and equipment rental to Eircom Virtual Private Network (VPN) account service.

The service contract for analytical instruments relates to the Central Meat Control Laboratory of my Department. Service contracts are required to establish that analytical instruments are still fit for purpose and operating within specification.

With regard to agencies under the aegis of my Department, payment for works or services are operational matters for the bodies themselves.