Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 1

Written Answers - Institutes of Technology.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

326 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the current stage of development of new accommodation for the Cork School of Music; if the construction of new premises is still planned; when it is envisaged that the new premises will be finished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5308/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The new Cork School of Music, a constituent part of Cork Institute of Technology, is being procured under the public private partnership model. The CSM provides training in a wide range of musical instruments, musical theory and speech and drama. The school caters for students from first to fourth level, whether they are amateur musicians, music teachers or performers.

The tender for this project was advertised on a European-wide basis in June 2000. Following the project launch in July 2000, 12 consortia expressed interest in bidding for the project. Following the presentation of outline proposals the number of bidders was eventually reduced to three. These bidders were issued with an invitation to negotiate in November 2000. The consortia bids were submitted in February 2001 and were subject to detailed evaluation by the project board which included officials from my Department, the Department of Finance, representatives from the Cork Institute of Technology and our specialist advisers under the following four head ings; design and construction, services, financial and legal issues. Following this process, Jarvis Projects Limited was selected as the preferred bidder in March 2001.

My Department's officials and advisers entered into a period of intense discussion with Jarvis with a view to reaching financial close on the project. Recently the Department of Finance raised a number of additional issues in respect of the project that my officials have been examining in conjunction with our specialist advisers. In addition the question of the involvement of the European Investment Bank is being addressed. Proposals have been tabled whereby the EIB could provide refinancing for the project two years into the operations phase, thus reducing the overall cost of the project. Discussions with the both the Department of Finance and the EIB are currently ongoing.

Ultimately, the final approval for the CSM will be a matter for the Government and consideration of it will be based on a thorough assessment of affordability of the project in the context of the competing demands on the likely capital funding envelopes in the future. My Department will continue to pursue this matter with the Department of Finance and all other concerned parties with a view to having the matter determined by Government in the very near future.