Builders' representatives meet developer over payment delays

INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES have met construction and property development group, P Elliott, after subcontractors raised concerns about delays in payments.

It is also understood the group has called staff to a meeting at its headquarters in Cavan tomorrow morning.

A delegation from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is understood to have met management at the Cavan-based group after a number of subcontractors raised concerns directly with the industry body over delays in receiving payment.

The federation represents both main and subcontractors. It has been seeking reforms to the current system of paying subcontractors.

A Bill dealing with the issue was before the Seanad just prior to the dissolution of the last Oireachtas.

It is not known what issues management intends to raise with its workforce tomorrow. No one from the group was available to comment yesterday.

P Elliott is one of the Republic’s largest construction groups and is involved in contracting and property development, two sectors that have been under extreme pressure in the last three to four years.

Various State bodies have been among the company’s clients, including the departments of defence and education. It has also been working on a medical building for the University of Limerick.

Elliot’s also has projects under way in the Olympic Village in London, and has just moved its British operation to a new office in London.

The group recently completed the reconstruction and refurbishment of the old Irish Times building on a site covering parts of D’Olier and Fleet Streets in the centre of Dublin.

P Elliott bought and funded the redevelopment of the building as a mixed retail and office development.