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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Seán Ryan

Question:

87 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on each of the five public private partnerships which he has entered; the value of the contract; the name of the contractor; the terms of the contract in each case; and if he will make a statement on the tender procedures followed. [9191/02]

I signed the first public private partnership contract under the Government's pilot PPP programme on 15 November 2001 with Jarvis plc for five new post-primary schools. It is a single contract to design, build, finance, and maintain the five schools over a 25 year period. The capital value of the contract is €80 million, net present value €127 million, and work on site commenced at the end of 2001. All five schools are scheduled for completion at the end of 2002. The new schools, which will cater for around 3,500 pupils, are located in Tubbercurry – 675 pupils – Ballincollig – 1,000 pupils – Clones – 500 pupils – Dunmanway – 700 pupils – and Shannon – 600 pupils. The PPP contracts were tendered in the Official Journal of the European Communities in June 2000. All five schools have been designed by Irish architects and are being constructed by Irish contractors.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will accede to the consensus among all stakeholders based locally in Malahide, County Dublin that Pobal Scoil Íosa be replaced with a new school with minimal footprint to ensure minimum disruption to the schools activities and the new availability of playing grounds which are currently denied to this large secondary school. [9237/02]

A full design team was appointed in August 2001 to redevelop Malahide Community School. A stage 1 – site suitability, briefing and site – report and stage 2 – outline sketch scheme – report was submitted to my Department on 21 December 2001. This report outlined eight possible options for the re-development of the school. A new build option involving the demolition of the existing junior and senior blocks was recommended as the optimum architectural solution. This recommended option is, however, the most expensive. As my Department is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the best value for money is obtained from any investment in a school, it could not justify committing itself to this option without exploring further some of the refurbishment and extension options. Accordingly, the design team was asked to explore some of the refurbishment options further. This information was submitted in mid February 2002 and is currently being assessed by staff in the building unit. My Department must be convinced that the design solution will provide a building, which is viable from an educational, architectural and economic point of view. I can assure the Deputy that in the redevelopment of Malahide Community School my Department will make every effort to ensure minimum disruption to the school's daily activities and the issue of additional external playing facilities required by the school will be addressed also.

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