Contractor denies workers’ claims over low pay rates

THE main contractor at a €5.5 million building project at Ennis Hospital has rejected claims some of the construction workers on site are being paid below minimum industry rates.

A number of plasterers staged an unofficial industrial action outside Ennis General Hospital, claiming it was an “information protest”. The protesters carried placards with slogans alleging proper rates of pay were not being paid to plasterers on site.

Tony Kenneally, from the Clare branch of the plasterers’ union, called for an investigation “by the relevant authorities” into the workers’ claims.

The multi-million euro design and build project has passed all the necessary EU and Irish regulations, while all the necessary paperwork concerning rates of pay and conditions was provided to the HSE’s estate office on a monthly basis.

Glenbeigh Construction contracts manager, John Francis, rejected claims made by the protesters. He said the company was fulfilling its obligations to ensure all sub-contractors on site were complying with regulations by providing proper rates of pay and conditions.

Mr Francis confirmed the 50 state-of-the-art single en-suite bedrooms were constructed off-site at its offices in Dublin to fast-track the construction process.

It only took the company two weeks to construct the ground floor and the roof was on three weeks later.

The company started construction work last February and is expected that it should be fully completed next September or October.

Glenbeigh operations manager, Frank Doolan, said the company believed one of the protesters possibly had a personal reason to stage the unofficial action.

He said the project went to tender where local sub-contractors were given a fair chance to secure work.

“We could take a certain view of this ‘information protest’. We will see what evolves and may have to take action if it escalates.”