The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) paid 90% of its suppliers within 15 days in the first quarter (Q1) of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is according to recent data published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a government requirement that all central government departments pay their suppliers within 15 calendar days of receipt of a valid invoice. This is known as “prompt payment”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This standard also applies to the Health Service Executive (HSE), local authorities and all other public sector bodies, excluding commercial semi-State bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All government departments and relevant public sector bodies are required to publish quarterly payment performance reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The data shows that DAFM issued 5,604 payments to suppliers within 15 days between January and March 2024, which was 90% of the payments due in the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The total value of these payments amounted to almost \u20ac35.5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the period, 98% of payments (6,106) valued at \u20ac43 million were made by the department<\/a> within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the previous quarter, covering from October to December 2023, DAFM issued 8,246 or 73% of payments within 15 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 94% of payments (10,565) were made by the department within 30 days during the quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Education, social protection and foreign affairs were the worst performing government departments in Q1 2024 issuing just 63% of payments within 15 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department of Finance came closest to a near-perfect payment record making 98% of payments to suppliers in the 15-day window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of departments had paid almost all invoices within 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n