Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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1253. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide for the use of social or local employment clauses in future capital projects under his Department’s remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47242/13]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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1292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide for the use of social or local employment clauses in future capital projects under his Department's remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47014/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1253 and 1292 together.

As my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has advised the House, the use of a social clause requiring a contractor to recruit a certain percentage of those employed on a public works construction site from the ranks of the long term unemployed is being piloted on a limited number of schools projects under the Devolved Schools Programme being administered by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.

It is my understanding that once this pilot programme is completed an evaluation will be prepared and submitted to the Government Contracts Committee for Construction (GCCC) for consideration in the context of their widespread use. 

In relation to the potential application of such a clause within my Department's capital programme, I can confirm that the National Roads Authority (NRA) who are responsible for the largest portion of the capital programme, intend incorporating a social employment clause into the Roads Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) that commenced procurement in 2013. The specific projects envisaged are the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP and the M11 Gorey Enniscorthy PPP.   The NRA will of course take account of the evaluation of the pilot programme.

Should the inclusion of social clauses be deemed appropriate on a wider scale, other elements of my Department's capital programme could also be considered, including the development of the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Blanchardstown.