Vol. 492 No. 3
39 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action, if any, he has taken to date to implement the recommendations of the strategic review of the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13748/98]
The Report of the Strategic Review Committee on the Construction Industry — Building Our Future Together — was published in June 1997. The report recommended the establishment of a broadly representative forum for the construction industry to oversee detailed implementation of the 86 recommendations contained in the report. I established the forum in October 1997 under the chairmanship of Mr. Joe Moran, the former chief executive of the ESB. In addition to the Chairman, the forum comprises 16 members who are representative of private and public sector clients of the construction industry, contractors, trade unions, the building professions and building material manufacturers.
The 86 recommendations involved are to be implemented, broadly in accordance with a timetable incorporated in chapter 6 of the strategic review committee's report, over the period 1997 to 2001. Some of the recommendations have already been implemented or are being implemented on ongoing basis. A substantial package of recommendations are due to be implemented from the autumn of this year.
In accordance with a commitment in Partnership 2000, the forum will publish an annual progress report on implementation, starting in December 1998.
