Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of contracts for replacement schools, school extensions and alterations to existing schools that have not been completed on time or on budget since 2011; the number of these failures to deliver that were as a result of the company that successfully secured the tender closing prior to completion; if his analysis shows that by focusing on securing the lowest cost possible, the procurement process has rewarded abnormally low tenders offered by challenged businesses that subsequently went into liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12940/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Since 2011 there have been a total of fourteen major school building projects that encountered difficulties which led to the termination of the main contractor's obligation to complete the works. Thirteen terminations were due to insolvency events involving four contractors. The remaining project was terminated due to the contractor's default which was not insolvency related. There have been no terminations due to contractor default since 2012. With regard to the procurement and award process, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department adheres to the rules and guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the EU Commission in relation to public procurement. My Department does not consider that any of the contracts awarded were on the basis of abnormally low tenders.