Vol. 570 No. 2
257 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Science the elements of the schools' building programme which will be considered for completion by way of public private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18342/03]
Work on the first education PPP pilot project, a bundle of five post-primary schools, was completed in December 2002. All five schools have been occupied since January 2003. I am actively identifying other possible education PPP projects. However, under EU rules, where projects are financed on a deferred payment basis by the private sector, such as public private partnerships, the capital value of such projects is a charge on the general Government balance over the construction phase. The GGB is the critical measure of what can be accommodated within our obligations under the Stability and Growth Pact of the Maastricht Treaty. A EUROSTAT group is currently reviewing the accounting rules on this issue as will a standing committee established by my colleague the Minister for Finance to advise on the GGB implications of private sector financed projects. Consideration of any new PPP projects will also be based on an evaluation of the completed pilot PPP schools project together with a thorough assessment of affordability of the project in the context of the competing demands on the likely capital funding envelopes going forward and taking into account the issues surrounding the General Government Balance.
