Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 16 October 2008, the number of architects invoices which are outstanding or waiting to be paid by his Department in connection with school building projects; the breakdown of fees outstanding for each individual project. [37960/08]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 16 October 2008, the number of correctly completed stage payment certificates which have yet to be paid by his Department's school building section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37961/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.

It is the policy of my Department to ensure that payments due to companies in respect of services, including those referred to by the Deputy, are made as expeditiously as possible. In this regard, my Department is subject to the provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that queries may arise in specific cases that need to be resolved before payments can issue. These may arise in cases such as where invoice amounts differ from the amount approved by my Department or invoices are not forwarded promptly to my Department by schools in cases where they are the client for a building project.

Currently there are over 360 major projects in architectural planning, the vast majority of which would have incurred design team fees to date. Fees are paid on approval of individual design stages.

Given the number of projects involved, it would require an inordinate amount of staff time to assemble the requested information. However, if the Deputy wishes to clarify the situation in respect of individual cases then I would be happy to provide him with the information.