TD's concerns for Mayo subcontractors hit by Roadbridge difficulties

Mayo TD Alan Dillon has stated he fears up to 1,630 livelihoods could be affected when many smaller sub-contractors are taken into account by Roadbridge's difficulties.

The placing of Roadbridge into receivership, one of the country’s biggest civil engineering and construction firms, will have a devastating blow for many livelihoods and a number of subcontractors in the west region.

Deputy Dillon said: “In recent days I have been contacted by numerous employees and many subcontractors from across County Mayo impacted.

"This is a major blow for employees and their families, my thoughts are with them. It is also a major blow for many subcontractors who face a difficult period of uncertainty as it emerged that efforts to find an investor or buyer for the business had failed.

"One subcontractor in Mayo said if Roadbridge are to collapse there is going to be severe consequences for the future of many subcontractors with many local jobs and livelihoods at risk.

"One employee who was in contact has worked for Roadbridge for the past 10 years, was told by the receiver, Grant Thornton, that all employees could not accept an offer of a job or sign on as the workforce has now entered a 30-day calendar period called 'Collection Redundancy Period', otherwise they will lose their entitlement to redundancy payment.

"They will not qualify for social protection payments and voiced the frustration on how employees who have lost their livelihood and the income support for themselves and their dependent families are supposed to do without any income support for the next 30 days.”

Roadbridge were recently appointed as contractor for the €200 million upgrade scheme of the N5 national primary route between Ballaghaderreen and Scramoge and main contractor of Phase 2 of the Oweninny Wind Farm in partnership with ESB and Bord na Móna and was involved in some of the biggest infrastructural road, energy and water projects in Ireland the UK and Europe.

"I have contacted the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys to highlight the worrying situation facing its 630 workforce and a further 1,000 indirect positions in jeopardy and those impacted in County Mayo and the real urgency for government to response to the call for interim income supports," added Deputy Dillon.