My Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls.
With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that the outstanding purchase order numbers referred to in the Details Supplied have issued. With regard to the current period invoices queried, my officials have advised that they are in process and would expect them to be paid in the coming weeks after all queries have been resolved and final checks completed.
My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.