Contracts for two major school building projects in Tramore have been awarded in the last four years. The details of the tenders awarded are as follows:
1. Holy Cross Primary School, the contract for which was awarded to BAM Building Ltd, Kill, Co Kildare;
2. Ardscoil na Mara Post Primary School, one of eight schools in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Schools Bundle;
3 Project, the contract for which was awarded to BAM Construction Ltd, Kill, Co Kildare.
In common with the rest of the Public Sector, capital works projects in schools are tendered under the standard Public Works Contracts as required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Government Contracts Committee for Construction (GCCC). The guidelines require a competitive process to be carried out in an open, objective and transparent manner to achieve best value for money in public procurement. School building projects are tendered in compliance with these guidelines and requirements. Similar guidelines and requirements applied to the award of the PPP Schools Bundle 3 Project in November 2012.
While the current public works contract do not require contractors to use local labour or materials, it is the case that building projects by their nature generally contribute to economic activity in the locality in which they are carried out. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Government Construction Contracts Committee are currently considering the possibility of inclusion of social clauses in future public works contracts. My Department will implement any future changes to public works contracts in accordance with the guidelines given.
Regarding contracts awarded to all entities involved in the construction of the school, the situation is that 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. There is no contractual relationship between the Department or the Client with any domestic subcontractors or suppliers engaged on the projects and therefore the Department does not hold details of any contracts other than that with the main contractor.
