Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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803. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the increase in revenue that would be received from having one additional staff member employed in credit control in his Department. [35161/13]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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804. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons in his Department who work on credit control issues. [35162/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 803 and 804 together.

My Department is a public body responsible for a wide range of programmes, including in the areas of housing, water services, environmental protection, local government services, and community and rural development. As my Department is not a commercial enterprise involved in the sale of goods and services as part of its normal business activities, it does not routinely create debtors or generate bad debts. Accordingly, my Department does not have a business requirement for a formal credit control function.

Each year, my Department's estimate, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, contains details of Appropriations - in - Aid which are receipts retained by my Department to offset gross expenditure; significant receipts also arise in respect of the Local Government and Environment Funds. These receipts are primarily receivable from other public bodies (for example, receipts in respect of EU co-financed programmes, payments by the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of services provided by MET Éireann and motor tax income from local authorities). No issues have arisen in relation to the timeliness of the relevant payments, in line with normal public sector accounting procedures; the work involved is part of the general financial management services provided in my Department.