Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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589. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost his Department incurred in each of the past five years due to debit and credit card payment services and banking fees; the financial institutions to which the payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37227/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department provides a Financial Shared Service to 10 client bodies. This results in higher volumes of banking charges which are currently absorbed by the Department.

Bank charges have increased in 2017 due primarily to the introduction of charges by the Bank of Ireland in relation to Government bank accounts. The Deputy may wish to note that the Office of Government Procurement is currently undertaking a tendering process to procure a new banking service for Government Departments and Offices. I understand it is intended that this new banking service will be in place in early 2018.

The payments relating to banking charges and credit card fees over the past 5 years are as follows: