Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.

My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.

I am advised by my officials that one payment was issued on 3^rdof February 2023 to the company mentioned in the Details Supplied and a further payment is expected to issue in the coming week, pending final checks. The outstanding invoices are currently being prioritised for payment.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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241. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a payment will be paid to a centre housing Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) as payment has not issued for the months of September, October, November, December 2022 and January 2023; the reason for the delay with these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9375/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.

My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and the Department is according this issue very high priority.

I am advised by my officials that payments to the accommodation in question issued in 2022 in respect of mid Sept/Oct. Payments from mid Oct to mid December are expected to issue shortly, pending final checks, while the remaining two invoices are currently in process. Their patience is much appreciated.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether consideration has been given to outsourcing the payment of refugee centres to an organisation at a location (details supplied) with a proven record of making payments on time on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9376/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.

My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and the Department is according this issue very high priority.

I can advise the Deputy that my officials are considering a number of avenues of support in relation to outsourcing, and that the organisation in question (Dublin office) has already been engaged to provide services to my Department in respect of assisting the payments operation.