Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of interest paid by him in respect of the late payments for goods or services contracted by his Department for the past five years to date in 2009; the steps being taken to ensure that money is appropriately spent and that payments are made on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of my Department's expenditure relates to the salary and superannuation costs of teachers, non teaching staff and the grant aiding of Schools, Colleges, Institutions and Bodies under the aegis of the Department. These payments are not subject to the terms of the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations, 2002 or the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997.

The net amount of prompt payment interest paid by my Department in respect of late payment for goods and services for the last five years was as follows:

To reduce to the lowest possible extent the sums incurred on prompt payment interest my Department issues regular guidance notes to ensure that staff are aware of the regulations in regard to late payments.