Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2006

Tuesday, 13 June 2006

Ceisteanna (335)

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

369 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the band rating allocated to both schools in relation to the proposed new community college and gaelscoil for Bantry in west Cork; the estimated cost of the proposed school bundle as referred to by her in Parliamentary Question No. 588 of 30 May 2006; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a site has been secured for these schools and outline planning permission has been obtained. [22466/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

My Department's Planning Section has assigned a band rating of 1.4 to the new community school and a band rating of 2.2 for the Gaelscoil Bheanntrai. The capital value of a PPP school bundle needs to be €50m approximately to attract sufficient interest from the private sector and to ensure my Department receives value for money over the lifetime of the contract.

I am aware that County Cork VEC has entered into a contract with Cork County Council to purchase the site for the new community college and Gaelscoil Bheanntrai and that a grant of outline planning permission was received on the 17 May 2006 for both the community school and Gaelscoil Bheanntrai. As indicated to the Deputy in my reply of 30 May 2006 the precise make up of the next PPP school bundle will be determined by my Department in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency.