Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is aware of the issue. It is complicated because it depends on the contract. Some contracts allow provision for inflation and some allow claims to be made for additional cost, while others do not. We have run into an issue around school-building where contractors tendered for a certain amount, believing they could build a school for that amount and make a reasonable profit. Now, because of the increased cost of building materials, they cannot build a school without making a substantial loss that they cannot bear. We are examining it but also want to make sure we are not taken advantage of and do not find that even more or all of the cost is passed on to us. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, in particular, is working on it.

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