Capital Expenditure Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2019

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Questions (105)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

105. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the capital projects completed by his Department since 2011; the initial contract value of same; the final cost of same; and the final cost of the capital projects that have had an ex post review in tabular form. [7848/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

School building projects in excess of €10m typically arise at post-primary level rather than at primary level.

Building Contracts in excess of €10m

Numbers	County	Roll No.	School	Year	Contract Sum Incl VAT	Date LOA signed/ Contract commenced	Final Account Agreed Sum incl VAT	Reason for variation: Change Orders, Conciliation etc
1	Cork	68264R	Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline	2017	€13,322,007.84	24/03/2016	€14,683,207.60	Approved change orders
2	Dublin	60029J	Clonkeen College, Dublin	2017	11,303,020	22/06/2015	11,615,716.32	Approved Change Order
3	Limerick	20175A	Limerick ETNS (Linked with 20181S)	2017	€12,451,133.76	30/08/2016	€12,668,568.52	Approved change orders
	Limerick	20181S	GS an Raithin (Linked with 20175A)	2017
4	Dublin	68082L	Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan	2016	€14,364,344.28	06/11/2015	14,911,274.40	Approved change orders
5	Meath	76196W	Ashbourne Post-Primary School, Ashbourne - linked to 20382F and 20396Q	2016	€17,308,750.00	10/09/2015	€18,303,847.37	Approved change orders
	Meath	20382F	Gaelscoil Na Mí, Ashbourne - linked to 76196W & 20396QO	2016
	Meath	20396Q	Ashbourne Educate Together National School, linked to 76196W & 20382F	2016
6	Cork	62640M	St Angela's College, Cork	2015	11,423,467.50	10/03/2014	13,039,322.04	Approved Change Order and Conciliation Award
7	Dublin	76129H	Ardgillan Community College, Balbriggan	2015	12,319,627.51	01/07/2013	13,194,070.88	Approved Change Orders
8	Dublin	76152C	Clonburris Post-Primary School, Clonburris, Lucan	2015	€12,892,172.11	27/03/2014	€15,761,147.55	Approved change orders and conciliation

9	Galway	71330V	Coláiste na Coiribe, Bóthar Thuama	2015	€10,830,109.00	21/7/2014	€11,524,790	Approved change orders
10	Dublin	81001L	Newpark Comp, Blackrock	2014	12,468,451.03	09/07/2013	12,733,512.97	Approved Change orders
11	Meath	76173K	Coláiste na Mí, Navan (linked to 20179I)	2014	€11,379,235.42	20/12/2012	11,668,067.63	Approved change orders
	Meath	20179I	St Stephen's NS, Navan (linked to 76173K)	2014
12	Meath	18762D	SN Realt na Mara (Girls) Mornington (joint project with 18767M)	2014	€10,101,818.49	04/01/2013	€10,354,045	Approved change orders
	Meath	18767M	SN Realt na Mara (Boys) Mornington (joint project with 18762D)	2014
13	Dublin	76130P	Luttrellstown Community College	2013	€13,046,425.00	01/08/2012	€13,369,738.02	Approved change orders
14	Monaghan	76091I	Gaelcholáiste Oiriall (Linked to 76095Q & 19936P)	2013	€30,770,156.53	15/08/2011	€31,643,045.78	Approved change orders
	Monaghan	76095Q	Monaghan Institute of Further Education (Linked to 76091I & 19936P	2013
	Monaghan	19936P	Gaelscoil Ultain (Linked to 76095Q & 76091I)	2013
15	Dublin	76098W	Pobail Scoil Setanta, Phibblestown - linked to 20247W	2011	€19,921,240.77	16/12/2008	€20,292,897.58	Approved change orders
	Dublin	20247W	Scoil Grainne, Phibblestown - linked to 76098W	2011

It can generally take quite a while for final accounts on projects to be submitted by contractors and then get finalised and agreed. The attached table sets out the position in respect of large-scale school building projects in excess of €10m where the final account has been agreed. In summary, it shows that there was just over a 5% difference between the tender (contract) sum and the agreed final account for large-scale school building projects delivered since 2011. There is a process in place for dealing with requests for change orders to existing contracts and these typically relate to matters such as unforeseen events during the construction process, requirement for additional works etc.

My Department carefully manages and control costs on all projects in order to ensure best possible outcomes for the investment being made under the capital programme.

The measures in place to manage and control costs on large-scale school building projects include:

- Detailed procedures in place for appraisal, design, tender and construction of large-scale school building projects.

- Standardisation of sizes and layouts for classrooms and other rooms in schools.

- Detailed design team procedures that involve Department approval for progression through the various stages of design and tendering.

- NDesign Team fees tendered on percentage basis and then locked in to a fixed sum when design has been developed at Stage 2A of design process.

- Planning permission and design completed before tender process commences which gives clarity to tenderers on scope of project

- Contracts tendered on a fixed price basis using the standard form of Government contract – which gives certainty in relation to managing the impact of construction inflation.

- Procedures in place for provision of monthly progress reports and arrangements for dealing with any requests for change orders to existing contracts.

In addition to the school projects listed in the attachment 20 schools were delivered during the period by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP). In the case of such projects, the cost (which also includes Facilities Management and lifecycle costs) is determined at Financial Close and payment by the Department is by way of monthly Unitary Charges over the operational period, usually 25 years.

Information in respect of capital projects in the Higher Education Sector with building contracts in excess of €10m and with final accounts agreed will be forwarded separately to the Deputy when the relevant information is collated and finalised.