Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2014
259. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 3 April 2014, if the use of social clauses in public procurement contracts applies to construction contracts entered into by local authorities. [39990/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra260. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 3 April 2014, if he will provide an up-to-date report on the pilot initiative to be included in the NDFA, National Development Finance Agency, devolved schools programme approved by the Government contracts committee for construction. [39992/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together.
As outlined in the response to your earlier PQ 93 of 3 April 2014 (PQ 15781/14 refers), 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 to the NDFA 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. In the monthly report period for September 2014, across the three contracts there are 39 employees working on the sites who had been unemployed for more than 12 months and 12 further employees who are either apprentices or trainees, of whom 7 (of the 12) have also been unemployed for more than 12 months.
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.
