asked the Minister for Finance the reasons for seeking group or bulk contracting for the erection of five schools in County Donegal, all located at widely scattered centres; if he is aware that this new departure will prevent small contractors from tendering for these schools and thereby prevent competition in tendering; and, if so, if he will amend this new procedure forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Contracts for County Donegal Schools.
49.
Ways and means of increasing the production of schools and raising the standard of school building are being considered. Placing contracts on a bulk basis for a number of schools together was one way suggested and considered worthy of trial. The five cases in Donegal happened to have been the first ready. It was never the intention to keep work from the small contractors. In fact individual cases continue to be advertised and I expect that there will be six such cases in Donegal alone in the next three months. As I have already informed the Deputy in regard to the five schools, tenders will be considered for each school separately or for any number together, and a notice to that effect has been published.