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CIF calls on Government to borrow E-mail
Written by Staff Reporter   
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
The Galway Branch of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called on Government to borrow now to deliver infrastructure and to deal with “onerous and excessively bureaucratic” pre-qualifying procedures for public sector construction projects. The call came at a packed meeting of CIF members in the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway, on Tuesday last, which was attended by CIF Director General, Tom Parlon.
 
Speaking on behalf of the Galway Branch, Ray Gilboy, CIF Director said:
 
“Pre-qualification processes have become extremely onerous and bureaucratic and companies are spending an inordinate length of time filling out long forms, often in duplicate, when there is absolutely no logical requirement that they do so.”
 
“It is further the case that some contracting authorities are placing unreasonable requirements on contractors in areas such as turnover even though the companies have a demonstrable track record in delivering such projects”.
 
“These problems are emerging at a time when the industry is under significant pressures and when the added time and costs associated with unnecessary bureaucracy is a major problem. When the conditions are so onerous that local contractors cannot successfully qualify for local contracts that they have always delivered, then something is wrong”.
 
He said CIF had taken up this issue nationally and would be pushing it in advance of next month’s Budget.
 
The CIF Director concluded by emphasising the need to deliver on infrastructure promises set out in the National Development Plan:
 
“Ireland has an acknowledged infrastructure deficit in areas such as private transportation, schools, hospitals, water and waste water services, waste management, environmental infrastructure and broadband. Galway has seen this first hand so the imperative to deliver on promised improvements is self evident.  It is also the case that tendering has become very competitive and Government will get excellent value for money on infrastructure projects”.  
 

“The suggestion that Ireland can’t afford such projects is simply untrue. We have the second lowest national debt in the EU and even if we exceed the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact this year and next, we will still have the second lowest national debt in the EU. We should borrow now to deliver the infrastructure we need and ensure that Ireland is better placed than our competitors to benefit from the recovery in the international economy when it comes.”  

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