Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1433. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if all security and contract cleaning companies that have obtained contracts from her Department and agencies under the aegis of her Department under public procurement rules are paying the legal employment regulation order, ERO, hourly rate to their security and contract cleaning employees; the steps she has taken to confirm full compliance with the ERO system; if she has cancelled contracts with companies that have been found to be in breach of the ERO system since 1 October 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35222/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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All cleaning contractors for my Department are being paid, equal to or above, the legal Employment Regulation Order (ERO) hourly rate. There are no security contracts as this is arranged by the Office of Public Works.

The Adoption Authority of Ireland and Oberstown Children Detention Campus have both confirmed that contracts for security and cleaning where applicable also comply with the ERO. No contracts have been cancelled by my Department, Adoption Authority of Ireland or Oberstown Children Detention Campus due to breaches of the ERO system.

Tusla has advised that they are reliant on the Health Service Executive (HSE) / Health Business Services (HBS) Contracts and Framework agreements for security and cleaning services and these are managed by the HBS. Therefore any information in this regard would fall under the remit of my colleague, Mr Simon Harris, Minister for Health.

The Office for the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function and report to the Oireachtas on matters within its remit, as required by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The question has been forwarded to that office who have been asked to reply to the Deputy directly.