Written Answers Nos. 75-81
75. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to problems with employment procedures in some of the contracts awarded for school building projects, in particular the practice of employing workers below the REA rates and below the minimum wage in a school (details supplied) and the action he will take on same. [39579/12]
View answerThe contract for the project to which the Deputy refers, is between the Board of Management and the main contractor. There is no contractual relationship between any of the sub-contractors engaged on this project and either my Department or the Board of Management. In general all sub-contractors employed on school building projects are employed directly by the main contractor or indirectly by the main contractor through other sub-contractors. It is a matter for all sub-contractors to agree terms and conditions and a schedule of payments with the main contractor as their direct employer.
Where issues arise in respect of the Registered Employment Agreements my Department is of the view that the statutory dispute investigation and resolution mechanisms provided by the State such as the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) and the Rights Commissioner Service of the Labour Relations Commission are the appropriate means by which these issues should be investigated and resolved. The relevant statutory agencies already have the remit, resources, experience and powers in place to investigate and resolve these matters in the most efficient and impartial manner. With regard to the particular school referred to by the Deputy, my Department has checked with the Employers Representative on the project and has been informed that they are not aware of any such issues having arisen.
76. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39581/12]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Design). Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the 5 year construction programme announced in March. School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years.
77. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39582/12]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2(b) submission which includes planning permission, Fire Cert, Disability Access Cert (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents. To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most future demographic growth will be concentrated.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet those increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the 5 year construction programme. Schools, including the one referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years.
78. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for funding from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the status of this application; when a decision will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39583/12]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved grant aid to the school to which he refers last April for the construction of one mainstream classroom. It is now a matter for the school authority to progress the project to construction and to ensure that the grant is drawn down within the period prescribed with the grant approval.
79. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary which has applied for major capital funding; the timeframe for completion of works; the works that have yet to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39584/12]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a major school project involving the provision of a General Purpose Room and ancillary accommodation. Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given to school applications for essential mainstream classroom accommodation. In this regard, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet the demographic demand, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.
80. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for funding from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the status of the application; when a decision will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39585/12]
View answerThe school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible at this time to indicate when a project for the school in question will be progressed.
81. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for funding from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the status of the application; when a decision will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39586/12]
View answerMy Department has no record of having received a recent application from the school referred to by the Deputy for capital funding. I wish, however, to advise the Deputy that a major building project was completed at the school in recent years and my Department provided funding amounting to €549,000 to complete the project.
