Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2014
498. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to an industrial dispute at a site under the school building programme (details supplied) in County Dublin; and her views on the allegations that the use of sub-contracting work on some sites has led to a substantial loss of pay and conditions for workers on the site and in some other sites under the school building programme. [36742/14]
View answerI am aware of an issue at the school site referred to by the Deputy. I would encourage all parties involved to use the appropriate industrial relations channels to resolve this current matter.
School building projects which are funded from public monies, including the school project in question, are required to use the forms of contract provided under the Capital Works Management Framework which includes a suite of public works contracts, standard conditions of engagement, model forms, suitability assessment questionnaires and guidance notes published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The OGP is an office within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which has been tasked with centralising public sector procurement arrangements for common goods and services.
A building project is a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor, specialist sub-contractors, domestic sub-contractors, suppliers of materials, suppliers of plant etc. In general all sub-contractors employed on education sector 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.
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board is the Client/Employer under the Contract for the particular project to which the Deputy refers. While my Department is the funding authority for the project, it is not a party to the Contract and, as such, my Department has had no direct dealings with the Contractor regarding this particular project.
