Written answers
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Departmental Banking
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form if possible, a list of the bank accounts used by his Department and separately any agencies within the remit of his Department; the purpose of each bank account and the financial institution the bank account is with; the total amount of any interest charged or bank fees incurred by his Department and separately by each agency in 2011 and anticipated figure for 2012; the percentage of payments issued by his Department and each agency which are issued electronically and if the Department agency has any special arrangement in place on the issue of bank charges and fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44842/12]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department uses six bank accounts which support the main payment and receipting functions of the Department and a further eleven bank accounts which are maintained mainly to support the day to day operation of the Department's regional laboratories (RVLs) and farms. Details of the accounts are set out in the following table:
| Financial Institution | Purpose of Bank Account |
|---|---|
| AIB | Electronic payments to clients & suppliers |
| AIB | Intervention related electronic payments to clients & suppliers |
| AIB | Electronic payments to foreign currency clients & suppliers |
| Bank of Ireland | Electronic payment of salaries and wages |
| Bank of Ireland | To facilitate receipt of income from customers |
| Bank of Ireland | To facilitate receipt of income in respect of inspection fees |
| AIB | Operational expenses & receipts - Cork RVL |
| Ulster Bank | Operational expenses & receipts - Limerick RVL |
| Bank of Ireland | Operational expenses & receipts - Sligo RVL |
| Ulster Bank | Operational expenses & receipts - Kilkenny RVL |
| National Irish Bank | Operational expenses & receipts - Athlone RVL |
| Bank of Ireland | Operational expenses & receipts – Backweston RVL |
| Bank of Ireland | Operational expenses & receipts - Agriculture House |
| Bank of Ireland | Operational expenses & receipts - Cork Dairy Science Lab |
| AIB | Operational expenses & receipts – Raphoe Farm |
| AIB | Operational expenses & receipts - Longtown Farm |
| AIB | Operational expenses & receipts - Backweston Farm |
The net cost of fees charged on the bank accounts was €3,800 in 2011 and a similar amount is anticipated for 2012. Where free banking is not available, the Department has negotiated that interest is earned on credit balances. Some 99% of all payments made by my Department are now paid electronically. The use and cost of bank accounts by the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves.
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