Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Defence if his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [34881/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The answer to the Deputy's question is almost identical to the reply I gave to the similar question he tabled on Thursday December 13th 2007. Neither my Department nor its agencies has paid in advance for works or services that will not be completed before the end of the 2007 financial year.

There is an on-going capital building programme in my Department designed to modernise the training, operational and living accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces. It is standard practice with construction projects to make stage payments at agreed milestones while projects are ongoing. Such payments are not regarded as advance payments.