Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2014
513. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the widespread use of subcontractors by companies engaged in Government-funded school building programmes; and her view on the contention that the widespread use of RCT1s on these jobs is not resulting in tax avoidance, forced social welfare fraud or the undermining of workers’ wages and conditions. [38208/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra514. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the ongoing industrial action at a college (details supplied) in County Dublin; the contacts she had with the contractor, the local education and training board, the Revenue Commissioners and the contractors administration services regarding complaints made to her office with respect to the alleged abuse of RCT1s and alleged tax avoidance and undermining of workers’ wages and conditions; and her views that workers at this site are not being forced to work in the black economy. [38209/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together.
I 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 moneys, 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 & 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.
