Mr. John Perry, T.D. Minister for Small Business, today (Tuesday) published
the latest set of quarterly composite figures, which show that Government
Departments and the Agencies under the auspices of the Department of Jobs,
Enterprise and Innovation continue to comply with the Government
requirement to pay business suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid
invoice.
Figures released by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, show
that Government Departments made a total of 59,270 payments in Quarter 4 of
2013 amounting to just under €1.13bn.
Speaking on the publication of these figures, Minister Perry said, “Of the
59,270 payments made in this quarter, 52,362 payments valued at just under
€1.08bn. were paid within 15 days. In value terms, this represents 96% of
the total payments made by Government Departments which clearly
demonstrates that Departments are continuing their efforts to comply with
the Government requirement to pay business suppliers within 15 days of
receipt of a valid invoice.
Minister Perry also welcomed the continuing commitment by the Agencies
under the auspices of his Department to pay their suppliers within 15 days.
Minister Perry said, “A total of 21,939 payments were made in Quarter 4 of
2013, amounting to just over €50.7m; of these, 20,051 payments amounting to
€46.3m were paid within 15 days. In value terms, this amounts to 91% of
the total payments made by Agencies.
The Minister commented: “It is clear that Irish business, particularly
small businesses, continue to face many challenges, one of these being the
issue of late payments.
However, I am confident that through the measures which have recently been
introduced, we can address the culture of late payments at both national
and EU level.
Among these actions is the implementation of the Late Payment Directive
which came into effect on 16th March last year, aimed at improving payment
practices in commercial transactions between businesses and between
businesses and Public Authorities.
Minister Perry concluded: “This is an important piece of legislation that
needs to be brought to the attention of all Public Authorities and
businesses throughout Ireland. That is why my Department is currently
running a Late Payment Information Campaign aimed at providing information
on the Late Payment Directive. The Campaign was launched in the European
Commission Offices in Dublin last December and will continue during 2014 in
various regional locations throughout Ireland.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Returns for Quarter 4 of 2013, are available at:
http://www.djei.ie/enterprise/smes/agencies_returns_q4_2013.pdf
http://www.djei.ie/enterprise/smes/govt_dept_returns_Q4_2013.pdf
Key Findings of Quarter 4 (October - December) 2013 Returns
(a) Government Departments
These returns are the 18th set of returns by Government Departments.
· A total of 59,270 payments were made in Quarter 4 of 2013 amounting to
just under €1.13bn.
· Of these, a total of 52,362 payments totalling just under €1.08bn were
paid within 15 days. In value terms, this equates to 96% of payments made
within 15 days;
· These payments represent 88% of the total number of payments made;
· 58,502, payments were made within 30 days by Departments in the above
period amounting to just over €1.12bn. In value terms, this equates to
99.8% of total payments made. Of these, 6,140 payments or 10% were made
between 16 and 30 days;
· 14 Departments paid between 87% and 100% of invoices by value within 15
days;
· Of these14 Departments, 11 paid between 90% and 100% of invoices by value
within 15 days.
· All Departments paid between 97% and 100% of invoices by value within 30
days.
· All Departments paid between 91% and 100% of their total number of
invoices within 30 days.
(b) Agencies under the auspices of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation
These are the 10th set of returns by the 13 DJEI Agencies
· A total of 21,939 payments were made in Quarter 4 of 2013 by the Agencies
amounting to just over €50.7m.
· 20,051 payments totalling €46.3m. were paid within 15 days. In value
terms, 91% of invoices were paid within 15 days.
· 21,776 payments totalling €50.3m. were paid within 30 days. In value
terms, this equates to 99% of total invoices paid.
· A further 1,725 payments, or 7.8% of total payments, were paid between 16
and 30 days.
· 11 Agencies paid between 84% and 100% of their invoices by value within
15 days.
· 11 Agencies paid 100% of their invoices by value within 30 days.
· All Agencies paid between 93% and 100% of their total number of invoices
within 30 days.