Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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284. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures he has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44003/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by my Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in table A below.

Government Departments are required to pay suppliers within 15 calendar days of receipt of a valid invoice as per prompt payment regulations. Where payment exceeds 30 days (or less if agreed payment terms are shorter) prompt payment penalty interest and late payment compensation become payable to the supplier.

Staff who make purchases on behalf of the Department of Finance are reminded by way of regular communications and training on the need to comply with the procurement to pay processes.

Purchase order compliance and penalty interest payment is monitored and reported on a monthly basis to the Executive Board in order to reduce the occurrence of late payment of purchase orders within the Department.

Table A