Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are examining that in terms of a project bank account, which is the point Deputy McDonald raised. These have been established in the UK and, as I understand it, the main contractor and the subcontractors are all referred to and paid out of this designated project account and in that way they know exactly where they stand in terms of the total drawdown funds that the state makes available for that project or group of projects. It is a stand-alone account to which they are named parties, as is the main contractor. That is one way around this. The UK has operated this for some years. We are examining this intensively at present. I think that would resolve the problem.