Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The context is that this year 27 new schools and 14 large-scale extensions were completed. These 41 large-scale projects involved 30 projects in the primary and 11 in the post-primary sector. A further 60 large-scale projects are under construction, while another 67 are advancing towards or are at tender stage, prior to commencement on site. Some of these were delivered in the traditional manner and some were devolved to different bodies like ETBs, etc. It is a major programme. I share the concern that we would spend where we should be spending. The school sector is a major priority for all of us. We do not want to see delays happening, but sometimes they happen for genuine reasons. We want to make sure we spend the money and do not let it go.

There has been considerable improvement in terms of things moving more quickly than they did in the past. I remember a time when many stages were involved and things seemed to take forever. I am aware of a large number of projects which are ready to go, if funding was available for them. If there are delays I would be happy to investigate why they exist.

On the issue raised by Deputy Daly on sub-contractors, I share his views on non-payment of sub-contractors. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has been working on strengthening the rights of people who are losing out in that regard. In my Department, the Contractors Administration Services, CAS, conducts random audits of school building projects to ensure they are compliant with regulations under the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection. If criminal activity was involved, recommendations could be made. It conducts audits on building sites and if it sees anything it believes is untoward, it can refer it to the relevant authorities and have them investigated. The Department does that in order to ensure that there is no abuse of the various regulations and obligations of contractors and sub-contractors working on sites.