Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to overhaul existing building standards in the construction industry. Related to that is the fact that SOLAS, under the Department of Education, has farmed out the Safe Pass course to independent commercial entities. Since March 2020 and the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the cost of that course has more than doubled from €80 to get a Safe Pass to work on a building site to €160 and then to €200 to do that course. If one does it through a third language, the cost can be as high as €250. That is price-gouging at its best. What does the Taoiseach intend to do about that? It is inhibiting young workers from getting access to jobs on building sites. These would be considered essential workers but as well as that, in the longer term, it is outrageous that the course is farmed out to companies that will use the opportunity to price-gouge. Will the Government take the Safe Pass course back into the Department of Education through the education and training boards, ETBs and SOLAS?

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