Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
201. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the tender process for the €200 million PPP investment in infrastructure in the higher education sector will be structured (details supplied); if there will be a separate tender for each of the 11 institutions which are to receive investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7044/18]
View answer216. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a tender (details supplied) will be tendered via the traditional funding route in an effort to support companies on the Border in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7205/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 216 together.
The projects forming part of the Higher Education PPP Programme are currently being appraised in accordance with the Public Spending Code. The current focus is on confirming the detailed Schedules of Accommodation for each project. This PPP programme was provided for in the Government’s Capital Plan for 2016-2021 and is expected to deliver some 8,000 student places across the Institute of Technology sector.
The PPP procurement process, whilst yet to be finalised, is anticipated to comprise two separate tender competitions to deliver the identified facilities across the 11 HEIs.
As part of the PPP procurement process there will be a series of regional “Meet the Buyer” events for local SMEs to meet with the PPP companies that have been short-listed to tender for the project. This process has been used extensively on previous PPP projects and both the participating SMEs and PPP companies have reported it hugely beneficial. Timelines and further details will be made available on the NDFA website at www.ndfa.ie in due course.
