Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015
293. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of evaluating the use of social employment clauses in public sector procurement under the devolved schools programme; and if such an approach will be rolled out across public sector procurement. [4950/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a pilot social clause has been included in the three devolved schools bundles which are being administered by the NDFA on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
In summary the pilot clause requires that:
At least 10% of those working on the sites being drawn from the live register and having been unemployed for more than 12 months; and
At least 2.5% of workers on the sites will be engaged in an approved registered apprenticeship, training or educational work placement scheme.
In total the three contracts cover fourteen sites with the works comprising both stand-alone, new build and extensions/refurbishment works. Construction work started on all three of the contracts during Spring 2014. The aggregate capital value of the contracts is c. €70m.
I understand that overall compliance in relation to the pilot clause has been good. The Department of Social Protection and its local Intreo offices are working closely with the appointed contractors to support the pilot initiative and there has been strong positive engagement from the contractors involved in each of the projects.
The most recent monthly progress reports (Dec 14) provided by each of the main contractors involved indicate that they are on target to achieve the cumulative percentages set out in the pilot clause. At present, across the three contracts the contractors' reports indicate that there are 50 employees who had been unemployed for more than 12 months and 17 further employees who are either apprentices or trainees.
The Department of Social Protection, through its local Intreo offices is continuing to liaise with the contractors on all three contracts to identify and fill further positions from the live register.
Once initial evaluations on the performance of the clause have been undertaken any necessary amendments will be tabled at GCCC before they are incorporated into the €1.5bn, PPP element of the €2.25bn Stimulus Programme that I announced in July 2012.
