Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has submitted any further funding proposals to the European Investment Bank in view of the recent €50 million public private school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51211/12]
View answerI understand that dialogue has commenced between officials of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and the European Investment Bank in relation to the potential funding of further educational PPP projects as part of the Government approved Economic Stimulus Package. The Economic Stimulus Package announced last July includes two further bundles of school projects that would be advanced in the context of my Department's five year school building programme, as well as a major project for the consolidation of Dublin Institute of Technology at Grangegorman. However, no decisions about funding have been made at this time.
It is envisaged that if EIB funding is secured for these projects, it would be structured on the same basis as the recent third schools bundle with the EIB lending directly to the PPP project company.
I would also add that, earlier this year, the EIB provided a direct loan of €100 million to the Exchequer to enable the Department to finance a programme of traditional school building works as part of the overall five year school building programme.
