Sinn Féin has called upon Woodvale Construction to engage with all subcontractors that have previously worked on a contract to deliver six schools in Bray, Wicklow, Kells and Carlow.

Woodvale was appointed to deliver the multi-million euro school bundle following the collapse of Irish building contractor Sammon in June.

However, Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD said the company must engage with the project's subcontractors that have worked on the project as any other approach will cause legal difficulties around how the completed works can be certified.

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"The NFDA (National Finance Development Agency) have committed to seeking a legal opinion on this issue," he said.

"This is more than a legal issue. There is a moral imperative that the subcontractors who have built these schools and pitches are paid for their work done.

"We are talking about indigenous businesses facing very serious consequences for something that is beyond their control. As things stand in September schoolchildren will be sitting in rooms and playing on pitches built by 160 subcontractors and their workers who will not have been paid for their work.

"The solution must involve the new contractor engaging these subcontractors. I am more convinced than ever after today's exchanges that the legal and moral cases are the one and the same here - that Woodvale must engage with all the subcontractors and that the NDFA, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must make that view clear to them."

(LM)