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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Safe Pass course costs

Summary

Deputy Smith said Safe Pass training costs had more than doubled and were becoming prohibitive for workers. The Taoiseach undertook to check the issue and said the cost should not block people from getting work.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to overhaul existing building standards in the construction industry. Related to that is the fact that SOLAS, under the Department of Education, has farmed out the Safe Pass course to independent commercial entities. Since March 2020 and the start of the Covid-19 crisis, the cost of that course has more than doubled from €80 to get a Safe Pass to work on a building site to €160 and then to €200 to do that course. If one does it through a third language, the cost can be as high as €250. That is price-gouging at its best. What does the Taoiseach intend to do about that? It is inhibiting young workers from getting access to jobs on building sites. These would be considered essential workers but as well as that, in the longer term, it is outrageous that the course is farmed out to companies that will use the opportunity to price-gouge. Will the Government take the Safe Pass course back into the Department of Education through the education and training boards, ETBs and SOLAS?

Comment on this

I will pursue that issue to see if what the Deputy is saying stands up. I will check that out. The cost should not be prohibitive to the participants who are anxious to get work and the wherewithal to enable them to work on sites and so on. That sounds prohibitive.

Comment on this