“Truth, Freedom, Justice, Sincerity and Joy”: This is the stated motto of Loreto Secondary School Wexford.

After a number of days of protest this week and the apparent intractability on the part of our government to resolve matters satisfactorily, it behoves us all as citizens of Wexford, to canvas our local public representatives, politicians and councilors to argue the case for achieving justice in the appropriate payments made to subcontractors who have worked beyond their remit in order to achieve completion on a building and grounds due to re-open on August 27th next.

It could be you, or your child, or your grandchild who is a prospective student who will enter the site of the new school building. It could be you or your family, relative or friend who has had to lay off staff and go without for the last nine months or more as tradesmen remain unpaid for superlative works carried out on the site of the new Loreto Secondary School Wexford.

Where have the truths been clarified in full in a transparent manner in relation to payments made over to contractors or subcontractors to date or the accountability for same?

What we have seen and heard, is various authorities and agencies not accepting any level of responsibility for this debacle over the last few days.

However our government must operate on the principles of Truth, Justice and Sincerity to regain credibility at this time. Let us see justice being enacted, through mediation, liaison and appropriate representation of matters for the sub-contractors, their staff and their families at the highest level.

WexfordToday.com have received a very welcome statement today as Fianna Fáil TD James Browne has called on the Government to step up its efforts to assist the sub-contractors impacted by the collapse of construction company Sammon.

Mr. Browne made the comments after a temporary High Court injunction was granted preventing subcontractors from blockading the site of the new Loreto School in Wexford Town.

“It’s no surprise that Sammon sub-contractors and their employees felt the need to picket the Loreto school site here in Wexford. These sub-contractors have carried out significant work and have been left high and dry without any payment. This has resulted in employees losing their jobs and local suppliers left unpaid. The sub-contractors face the very real possibility of going out of business unless they get paid for the work they have carried out,” said Deputy Browne.

“I understand the Government’s priority is to complete the unfinished work at the Loreto School in Wexford Town and it’s important that these facilities are to open as soon as possible, but the Government can’t be allowed to just forget about the sub-contractors impacted by the collapse of SammSkillscon.”

“PPPs are State issued contracts using public money. There must be accountability for the manner in which this money is spent. It is unacceptable that sub-contractors are left with no protection under current Public-Private Partnerships. When a sub-contractor goes unpaid it is not only the sub-contractor who loses out but also their employees and their families. I will be working with my Fianna Fáil colleagues to bring forward a Bill to ensure sub-contractors on State backed Public – Private Partnerships are never left in the lurch again,” concluded Deputy Browne.