asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that there are a number of outstanding payments due to an electrical contractor (details supplied) in Wexford and this is imposing severe difficulties on his cash flow; if he will allow certification by the supervising architect of the works as satisfactory for payment purposes in view of the inadequate staff to process this; and when individual payments will be made in relation to the individual schools.
Written Answers. - Payment to Wexford Contractors.
196.
Four of the contracts as outlined on the list attached to the parliamentary question are between the main contractors and the chairpersons of the schools' boards of management, the firm referred to in the question being subcontractors to the main contractors. These chairpersons are responsible for all payments.
In the case of two of the projects substantial payments of the grant have been made and in the case of the two others, it is expected that a payment will issue shortly.
In the other three projects the employer is the Department of Education and a number of payments which have been certified by my Department's professional advisers were recently made to the main contractor.
197.
asked the Minister for Education when outstanding certified payments will be issued to a building contractor (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will consider reviewing the payment process for such contracts in view of the cash difficulties they impose on construction firms.
Of the seven projects mentioned in the details provided with the Deputy's question, six concern schools. One concerns a telephone exchange which is not my Department's responsibility.
The contracts for three of the school projects are between the building contractors in question and the chairpersons of the schools' boards of management. In the case of one of these projects a substantial grant payment is being forwarded to the chairperson and in the case of another, the final account has only recently been received for examination. A number of outstanding works remained to be completed in relation to the third project and my Department's professional advisers have been asked to ascertain if these have been attended to.
The three remaining school contracts are between my Department and the building contractor concerned. In the case of one of these, all amounts certified by my Department's professional advisers have been paid and in the case of another the final account is being examined and a payment is expected to be made shortly. The final account for the third project is being examined and this examination is expected to be completed shortly.
While I acknowledge that difficulties with regard to payments may arise in individual cases, I do not consider that the number of such cases warrants a review of present procedures. I am asking the payments section of the primary schools building branch of my Department to make direct and early contact with the party concerned in this case with a view to resolution of any remaining difficulties.