Brady welcomes inclusion of social clause for the construction of Coláiste Ráithín and St. Philomena Schools

Wicklow Sinn Féin general election candidate Cllr John Brady has welcomed the inclusion of a Social Clause in the contract to develop two new schools in Bray. Planning permission was finally granted for St. Philomena’s Primary School and Coláiste Ráithín by An Bord Pleanála last November. The social clause in the contract will see 10% of all jobs on the project being reserved for long term local unemployed people, another 5% of jobs will be for apprentices. It is planned that construction of the schools will commence this June and will be finished by August 2017.

Welcoming the inclusion of the social clause in the contract Cllr Brady said “I welcome the inclusion of a social clause in the contract to build St. Philomena’s Primary School and Coláiste Ráithín. This will mean that 10% of all jobs during construction must be reserved for Long Term local unemployed along with a further 5% reserved for apprentices. Sinn Féin has been calling for mandatory inclusion of social clauses in all public contracts. In 2014 we introduced the Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill in Leinster House. The Bill attracted support from all sides of the house as well a welcome consensus on its core objectives. Construction is due to commence this June on the badly needed two schools, the project is expected to take 14 months with a completion date of August 2017”.

Cllr Brady continued “It is worth noting that Sinn Féin has successfully pursued the inclusion of social clauses in public contracts in the north. There is no reason why such an approach cannot be rolled out on an all-island basis; the Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill which we introduced hasn’t been turned into legislation and if in Government after the election is something we will ensure will happen. Our Bill outlines how public purchasers and suppliers will be legally required to protect the vulnerable and promote other social goals and community benefits. This can be done by including social clauses in all public contracts. Social clauses are a tool for getting more value out of each public euro spent”.

Cllr Brady concluded “It is good news that we now know when construction is due to commence on the two new schools in Bray and when they will be completed. All going according to plan they should be opened for the school year commencing in September 2017. The construction of the schools will see a boost to the local economy and ensure now that with the Social Clause included in the contract as Sinn Féin has been pushing for, that local unemployed people will be employed on the project and that apprentices will be also able to learn their trade”. Ends