John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to ensure that the providers of school furniture under the schools bundle 5 construction project will be paid in full; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in one case a small company has provided €250,000 worth of furniture and is still not paid and that the non-payment threatens its future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29074/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme comprises five school buildings and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells. This programme has been affected by the liquidations of both Carillion Construction Ltd and Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL).

Like other major construction projects, school building projects involve a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor and various sub-contractors and suppliers. In general, all sub-contractors and suppliers engaged on education sector building projects are employed directly by the main contractor, or indirectly by the main contractor through other sub-contractors.

It is recognised that the liquidations in question came as a particular blow to their employees and sub-contractors. However, the Department of Education and Skills does not have visibility of the detail of the relationship between the companies and their sub-contractors. The Department is not party to these contractual arrangements and does not have any role or authority in relation to payment or other contractual issues arising.