Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Department of An Taoiseach

Departmental Expenditure

11:00 pm

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [25868/09]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The following table details the amount of Prompt Payment Interest paid by my Department in the last five years and to-date in 2009:

YearPrompt Payment Interest Paid
â'¬
2004 10,160
2005 5,041
2006 7,170
2007 941
2008 2,361
January-May 2009 395

Procurement of goods and services by my Department is carried out under procedures set out in Department of Finance Public Procurement Guidelines and EU Procurement rules. These procedures are designed to ensure that competitive processes are in place to select the providers of goods and services which represent best value to the Department, taking account of a number of important criteria including cost and suitability for purpose.

Procedures in place, which may vary according to the nature and amount of the procurement involved, include the appropriate use of processes to specify requirements; selection of an appropriate competitive process whether by seeking quotations, advertising, use of central purchasing facilities and centrally negotiated framework agreements or more formal tender processes; evaluation of alternatives according to pre-set criteria; agreement of contracts; and monitoring of service delivery.

My Department has appropriate procedures in place including computerised process to payment systems, monitoring and control procedures and electronic payment facilities in order to ensure that the requirements of the Late Payments in Commercial Transactions Act 2002 are fully complied with and suppliers are paid on time. The average time for payment of invoices by my Department based on a review of invoices from 1 January to 31 May 2009 is 13.5 working days.

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