Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2009
6 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance when funding will be provided to enable the construction of Department of Education and Science offices in Mullingar, County Westmeath to commence; if a contractor has been selected to commence the construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31902/09]
View answerA number of key projects were identified as priority elements of the decentralisation programme in the Government announcement of 14 October 2008. The construction of a new headquarters building in Mullingar for the Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with a new headquarters for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Portlaoise, and a new decentralised office for staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Carlow was one of the projects given priority status. The proposed decentralised offices in the above three locations are being procured by means of a Public Private Partnership as a single Design, Build, Finance and Maintain contract. The award of a contract for this major project will be subject to Government approval.
