Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Public Procurement Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Ceisteanna (171)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if contracts for projects recently announced as part of the €200 million public private partnership (PPP) programme for higher education will follow the PPP procurement process as envisaged (details supplied); if each of the different phases of the projects will be contracted in accordance with traditional tendering and procurement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5598/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Higher Education PPP programme is currently in the pre-procurement phase, with the focus 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 Higher Education PPP Programme is being appraised in accordance with the Public Spending Code.

A PPP is an alternative method of procuring public services and infrastructure by combining the best of the public and private sectors with an emphasis on value for money and delivering quality public services. It is one of a number of methods used by the Department in delivering capital infrastructure in the education sphere. The Higher Education PPP programme will be subject to a robust set of value for money tests in advance of and during the procurement phase. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) will also carry out comprehensive financial, technical and legal due diligence of the bidders for the PPP contracts. 

It should be noted that given the range of investment priorities for the higher education sector, the Department intends to deliver these projects through PPP; it would not be feasible to deliver all projects in the same time frame using traditional procurement.

Barr
Roinn