(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Finance if certain contractors who were dropped from the Office of Public Works Panel on the grounds that they were unsatisfactory have been restored since 1 July 1977; if so, the numbers involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There is no record of any contractors having been dropped from the Office of Public Works panel of contractors and the question of restoration of names to the panel since 1 July 1977 does not therefore arise.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Have the Office of Public Works what I call a panel of contractors?

Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Have any contractors who were on the panel but who were dropped for one reason or another been restored to it since 1 July 1977?

I have already indicated that there is no record of any contractors having been dropped. Perhaps I should explain that any contractor is entitled to tender for work advertised by the Commissioners of Public Works. All tenders received are fully considered. In addition, the commissioners have a list of approved contractors for a number of services, for example, general building, civil engineering work, electrical and mechanical installations, provision of office and school furniture, window cleaning, and so on. Contractors from the approved list are specially invited to tender even when tenders are sought by public advertisement. To qualify for inclusion in the commissioners' list, a contractor must furnish with his application a list of works completed by him and their approximate value, together with references from architects or engineers or other qualified persons who supervised his work. The application is then considered on the grounds of suitability, experience, general set-up, and so on. If the contractor is acceptable to the commissioners he will be invited to tender for works within his competence. If he is awarded a contract, his performance on it is taken into account in connection with any other work for which his tender may come up for consideration.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister tell me how many contractors were added to the panel since 1 July 1977?

I have not got that information.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister pass it on to me if he can get it?

I will make inquiries to see if it can be done.