Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps which can be taken by sub-contractors working on school projects that have not been paid by the principal contractor for a period of greater than three months; the process his Department has in place to assist an unpaid school sub-contractor in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29919/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A building project is a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor, specialist sub-contractors, domestic sub-contractors, suppliers of materials, suppliers of plant etc. In general all sub-contractors employed on education sector building projects are employed directly by the Main Contractor or indirectly by the Main Contractor through other sub-contractors. It is a matter for all sub-contractors to agree terms and conditions and a schedule of payments with the Main Contractor as their direct employer.

As these contracts involve contractual matters between private companies as such my Department has no authority to intervene in these matters.

The Construction Contracts Act 2013 is intended to provide statutory arrangements for payments under construction contracts. The Act which was signed on the 13 April 2016 provides certain protections for companies and individuals, including sub-contractors, engaged in construction related activities who enter into construction contracts covered by the Act.