Vol. 566 No. 3
235 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the timeframe he envisages for the building of a new sports hall for a school (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if his attention has been drawn to the school's need for an additional classroom where the existing sports hall is. [12601/03]
236 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the health and safety concerns at a school (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if his Department has compiled a report on the matter. [12602/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The proposed refurbishment-extension project at the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 7 of the 2003 school building programme which I published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at an early stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a "band 4" rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. Projects listed in sections 6 and 7, primary, are not being authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when projects listed in these sections can progress to tender and construction will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the band rating.
237 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has a timetable in mind for the re-starting of the programme to build sports halls and facilities at schools; and the order in which he will tackle schools where there is a pressing need for such facilities. [12603/03]
The programme of activity for 2004 will be determined once the budgetary process has concluded, taking into account contractual commitments on projects already approved. It is my intention to publish the proposed programme so that all school authorities and other interested parties can be clear on the status and likely progress of any project.
238 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to be in a position to announce the building of a sports facility for Firhouse Community College and allocate the funding from his Department and the young persons' facilities and services fund that was allocated for this purpose. [12604/03]
Architectural planning for a 1607 sq. m., multi-purpose sports hall attached to Firhouse Community College is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, pre-tender stage. However, given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position during this year to allow further large scale projects to proceed to tender or construction in 2003 other than those listed in section four of the school building programme. The project at Firhouse Community College will be considered in light of available funds and competing demands for the 2004 capital programme.
239 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will rank, in order of priority, the schools that will have works done to them in the forthcoming year in the postal areas of Dublin 24, Dublin 6W and Dublin 12. [12605/03]
The programme of activity for 2004 will be determined once the budgetary process has concluded, taking into account contractual commitments on projects already approved. It is my intention to publish the proposed programme on my Department's website so that all school authorities and other interested parties can be clear on the status and likely progress on any project.
240 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools to date which have been built or refurbished under public private partnerships; and the target he has set for further such projects in the year ahead. [12606/03]
The contract for the provision of a bundle of five post-primary schools was signed in November 2001 with Jarvis Projects Limited. The schools are Maria Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway, County Cork, Ballincollig Community School, Ballincollig, County Cork, St. Attracta's Community School, Tubbercurry, County Sligo, Largy College, Clones, County Monaghan and St. Caimin's Community School, Shannon, County Clare. All five schools were handed over to the Department within schedule by the end of 2002. These are the first schools built to date under the Government's PPP pilot programme.
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.
241 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered, under the public-private partnership scheme for school buildings, that these projects be designed, built and operated by the private promoter as has occurred in the United Kingdom. [12607/03]
My Department has entered into two public private partnership projects to date. Both of these PPP projects have been procured on a design, build, finance and operator basis on a 25-year contract. The first project was for the provision of a bundle of five post-primary schools was launched in June 2000. The contract for the design, construction, finance and operation of the five schools was signed in November 2001 with Jarvis Projects. The schools are completed and occupied since January of this year.
In February of this year I signed the contract for the provision of a new National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy, County Cork. Under the terms of the contract this new state-of-the-art college is to be designed, built, financed and operated for 25 years by FocusEducation. Work on the college has commenced and it will be completed by October 2004.
