Vol. 559 No. 6
42 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the use he proposes to make of public private partnerships to tackle the grossly substandard accommodation in hundreds of primary schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26601/02]
I have initiated discussions with the Minister for Finance in relation to the development of a multi-year plan for the provision of new schools at primary and post primary level. It is my intention to utilise a mixture of traditional procurement and public private partnership. The projects will primarily be on greenfield sites in emerging areas where there are no existing schools. They will be confined to larger developments in order to realise the full potential of the building as a community asset and to achieve value for money. As the Deputy is aware, the National Development Finance Agency Bill provides a role for the agency, when established, in advising Departments on the best form of financing for infrastructure projects. My Department will take full advantage of the expertise available in the agency in developing PPP projects that will provide appropriate educational facilities in the areas most in need of them.
