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Complaints made over pay and conditions on 22 school building projects

There were 28 complaints received and five projects were referred to the Revenue Commissioners.

COMPLAINTS WERE MADE over issues people had with 22 school/college building projects around Ireland in the past year.

In one case, non-compliance was found with record keeping and shortfalls in payments due to workers.

Five projects were referred to the Revenue Commissioners.

The details of the work undertaken to ensure that all major school building projects comply with the pay and conditions clauses in the the Public Works Contract were outlined today by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD.

In April of last year, Quinn’s department appointed Contractors Administration Services (CAS) to conduct audits on school/college building projects to verify they were complying with pay and condition clauses.

People were able to make complaints online using an online system if they thought that non-compliance with the pay and conditions were an issue with some projects.

Complaints

By the end of 2013, a total of 28 complaints were received relating to 22 school/college building projects. All but four of these were received through the online system.

Of the 28 complaints received:

  • 19 have been referred to CAS for review (14 construction sites)
  • Six complaints – no action taken as projects are not being funded by Department or the projects are nearing completion
  • Two projects being referred to CAS for review
  • One complaint referred directly to NERA as they are proposing to carry out a review

CAS has completed 13 audits on school/college construction sites, with a further audit on-going.

Five projects have been referred to the Revenue Commissioners, one to the Department of Social Protection and one to NERA as a result.

In one audit CAS found non-compliance with record keeping and shortfalls in payments due to workers. This shortfall was brought to the attention of the contractor and back monies were paid to the workers. These payments were verified by CAS.

Minister Quinn said that there is €2 billion being spent on a five-year school buildings programme, with a further €125 million being spent on higher education infrastructure.

While I know that the vast majority of contractors are totally compliant I want to ensure that all workers on Department of Education & Skills building projects are being paid what they are due.

He is planning to identify a project this year which would involve CAS undertaking a monitoring service throughout the construction period of the project.

The online complaint form can be found at this link.

Read: Twenty ‘irreplaceable’ laptops stolen in primary school break in>

Read: 39 convictions for parents so far over children missing school last year>

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4 Comments
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    Mute Prince of Burren
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:48 AM

    What a bunch of morons out there this morning.I think ye are all jealous of our beautiful county with our great tradition of music,hurling,politics ,even Donald Trump likes us. Have a good day

    57
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    Mute NAMApropertymarket
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    Feb 28th 2014, 2:06 PM

    LOL

    3
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    Mute NAMApropertymarket
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    Feb 28th 2014, 2:07 PM

    I’d rather live in Syria or Ukraine than that little worthless bog you call Clare

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    Mute Jimmy Coonan
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    Mar 1st 2014, 1:54 PM

    Wow..Your uneducated and an idiot..that is some going…

    2
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    Mute Eoin O'Hagan
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:05 AM

    The Wild Atlantic Way has lived up to its name over the last couple of months. The winter storms have been reshaping the coastline all along the West coast. Here in Co. Clare the tourism infrastructure has been badly damaged, but that won’t stop Clare being open for visitors this year. Voted the best place to holiday in Ireland. Come see why ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anftlby4gSE

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    Mute Anton de Buitlear
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    Feb 28th 2014, 11:22 AM

    If heavens not in clare its not any where, ….see ya soon,

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    Mute NAMApropertymarket
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    Feb 28th 2014, 2:08 PM

    With a bit of luck the Atlantic will swallow the kip up one day

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    Mute Jimmy Coonan
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    Mar 1st 2014, 1:55 PM

    I’m surprised you got the “Atlantic” bit right due to your lack of intelligence…your mammy must be by your side therefore

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    Mute Pete Cool
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:06 AM

    Would it not be cheaper just to let Clare County go altogether. Move everyone out and house then in the ghost estates in other counties. Maybe just maintain two roads into the county – one that leads to the Aillwee Caves and the other to Shannon Airport. It could save a fortune on County Councillors. Plus the fantastic hurlers could improve hurling standards in their new counties. It’s a win-win really.

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    Mute Shanners
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:23 AM

    Its basically co Limerick anyway

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    Mute johnodonoghue
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:50 AM

    You are a clown

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    Mute Cpm
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    Feb 28th 2014, 12:27 PM

    Move them to Cork, detach Cork from the rest of the country, Bob’s your uncle.

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:00 AM

    I guess that’ll be an increase on LPT so.
    And a hike at the car park at the cliffs.

    29
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    Mute Keith Fay
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    Feb 28th 2014, 7:55 AM

    Co County? Hahaha

    24
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    Mute Matthew Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 28th 2014, 7:56 AM

    I wonder how the family family feel about this?

    6
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    Mute Keith Fay
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:00 AM

    Ahhh. They fixed it. The headline said Co County earlier.

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    Mute Angela Coll
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    Feb 28th 2014, 9:55 AM

    We need €36 million we get €16
    Oh yeah great job.. Not!
    If this was on the east coast it would be a different kettle if fish

    24
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    Mute Keano
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    Feb 28th 2014, 10:54 AM

    I’m sure that €36m was over-stated to begin with – don’t forget the €16m doesn’t include a further €6m for Doolin.

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    Mute Jeremy Rammer
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    Feb 28th 2014, 1:48 PM

    @ Angela

    What do you expect there is nothing in that boring little town that is worth investing in

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    Mute Steve Bang
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    Feb 28th 2014, 7:58 AM

    The whole of Clare isn’t worth that much

    23
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    Mute Jimmy Coonan
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    Mar 1st 2014, 1:57 PM

    Steve,your last name is bang..the mother jokes must have been good at school…:)

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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:56 AM

    Just buy a million worth of sand and throw it around a bit. Sorted.

    17
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    Mute ironman
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    Feb 28th 2014, 9:35 AM

    If there was no property tax there would be no funds for this work. Excellent planning by the government yet again :)

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    Mute Tom O Shaughnessy
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    Feb 28th 2014, 8:25 AM

    What a beautiful county. Well done
    Oval reps like Michael McNamara for fighting for decent allocation.

    13
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    Mute Jeremy Rammer
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    Feb 28th 2014, 1:43 PM

    The place is a kip

    Has nothing going for it

    3
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    Mute Jimmy Coonan
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    Mar 1st 2014, 1:58 PM

    Bit like you then

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    Mute John Smith
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    Feb 28th 2014, 12:00 PM

    Best bet would be to just write it off and get a new one.

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    Mute Jeremy Rammer
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    Feb 28th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Alot of money put in that you will never get back

    Leave the muck savages to fix it themselves

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    Mute ironman
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    Feb 28th 2014, 9:34 AM

    N

    3
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