asked the Minister for Education when outstanding moneys due to a contractor (details supplied) in County Cork who has carried out work on three schools will receive payment.
Written Answers - County Cork School Contract Arrears.
200.
Two of the schools referred to are national schools, and the following is the position. The individual referred to as the contractor acted in these cases as a sub-contractor to the main contractor and, as such, would have no direct contractual relationship with my Department.The work is being grant-aided and payments fall to be made by the school authorities to the main contractor. The Department's role is to assess and act on applications by the school authorities for grant payments at the agreed levels towards the cost of work carried out. I understand that in the case of one of the schools the grant has been fully paid and in the other the architect acting for the school authorities has yet to issue the certificate on the basis of which the grant would be paid.
One of the schools in question is a secondary school and, as such, the school authority is the client body for contract purposes and is, therefore, responsible for all payments. In these circumstances the question of money being due to contractors by my Department does not arise.