Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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531. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a payment to a service provider (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15332/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged over 750 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. This increased commitment has been repeated and supplemented by outsourcing and in March to date we have paid more than €120 million for Ukraine accommodation and related charges.

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 the Department has been in contact with the provider referred to by the Deputy regarding the outstanding balance. On receipt of valid invoices, these invoices will be processed as priority, with payment expected to issue shortly thereafter pending final checks.