BUILDERS are being blocked from construction sites in the Republic due to a "hard border" drawn up by the health and safety authorities, it's been claimed.
And one Co Armagh firm which helps train people for the construction, civil engineering and manufacturing sectors, has highlighted the issue which is reportedly leaving Northern Ireland contractors paying out for additional accreditation.
Brendan Crealey, managing director of Industry Training Services (ITS) in Portadown, said while all construction workers are required to pass health and safety training, separate qualifications provided in the different jurisdictions vary slightly.
"The safety standards in the building industry across the UK are considered among the highest in Europe," Mr Crealey said.
"As it stands, the schemes in the Republic of Ireland are largely modelled on those in the UK.
"While some safety training is mutually acceptable both sides of the border, skills cards such as for plant and machinery, are not.
"We now have a situation in Northern Ireland where employers are happy to accept Republic of Ireland cards because they know it is a good scheme, but we are not seeing the opposite happening south of the border."
He has now called on politicians from the north and the Republic to "get their heads together" and apply common sense to ensure Northern Ireland qualifications are recognised across Ireland.
The issue, which appears to relate to some cards issued under the CSR (Construction Skills Register) scheme, has already prompted a number of firms to avoid tendering for contracts in the Republic, according to Malcolm Keys, who runs civil engineering firm Mills Contracts in Dromore, Co Tyrone.
"Even if you win the work, you end up paying out again for pretty much the same training that your workers already have," he said.
"It is totally needless. If somebody is competent enough to work in Northern Ireland, the same should go in the Republic."
These views were echoed by Gordon Best, regional director of the Quarry Products Association NI, who said he was aware of a number of road contractors who had their workers put off sites because they were not deemed to be carrying the correct cards.
"Previously, there wasn’t an issue with the recognition of qualifications but that has changed in recent months," he added.
“It appears there is now a much tighter interpretation of regulations being applied in the Republic."
