Schools Building Contractors

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Ceisteanna (317)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

317. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail, for each of the past four years, the number of schools that have had building contracts terminated prior to the schools completion; the reasons for the termination of the contracts; the expense incurred by his Department in seeking new tenders in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23724/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

In the past four years, the contractor's obligation to complete the works was terminated on ten major school building projects. The difficulties encountered on nine of these projects related to contractor insolvencies. The termination of the contractor's obligation to complete the works on the tenth project was due to the contractor's default. There was a bond in place for each of the ten projects. The bond is used to cover costs that would otherwise accrue to the Employer (i.e. the Department, School, VEC etc.) on foot of a contractor's failure to complete the works. As such the Employer's financial exposure is generally minimal. Negotiations are ongoing with regard to a number of these projects and in some cases the full cost of re-tendering and completion of the works is not yet known. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to release commercially sensitive cost information which is currently the subject of negotiations. To do so would undermine the Department's position with regard to such negotiations.

For the Deputy's ease of reference I am supplying details of the ten projects.

County	Roll Number	School Name	Year in which issue arose	Reason for Re-tender
Kilkenny	61580P	Loreto Secondary School, Granges Road*	2012	Insolvency Event
Kildare	17674B	SN Aine Naofa, Ard Cloc, Straffan	2012	Termination due to Contractors Default
Dublin City	20139T	Inchicore NS, Sarsfield Road, Dublin 10	2011	Insolvency Event
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	70030E	Senior College, Dún Laoghaire, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin	2011	Insolvency Event
Galway City	62970K	Coláiste Iognáid SJ Bothar na Mara	2011	Insolvency Event
Limerick	13026P	Kilfinane National School	2011	Insolvency Event
Limerick City	64201T	Ardscoil Ris, North Circular Rd, Limerick	2011	Insolvency Event
Roscommon	65100S	Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, Co Roscommon	2011	Insolvency Event
Offaly	17523D	SN Cronain Naofa, Dromakeenan	2010	Insolvency Event
Kildare	17662R	Scoil Bhride NS , Kill	2009	Insolvency Event