‘Building work begins on first bundle of PPP projects creating 2,700 new school places’ - Minister O’Keeffe
The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD, today turned the sod on a new 550-student post-primary school in Banagher, Co Offaly, marking the start of the construction phase on the first bundle of four schools under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The Taoiseach was joined at the sod-turning ceremony by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD.
Announcing the progression to site of the four schools, the Taoiseach said: ‘Today, we’re marking the start of building work on four new post-primary schools which will be delivered under the PPP model.
‘One of those schools is Banagher College-Coláiste na Síonna where a new school building will provide 550 student places arising from the amalgamation of La Sainte Union Secondary School and St Rynagh's Community College.
‘The three other schools in the first PPP bundle on which construction is now beginning are St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise (850 students); Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise (850 students); and Gallen Community School, Ferbane, Co Offaly (450 students) arising from the amalgamation of Ferbane Vocational School and St Joseph’s and St Saran's Secondary School.
‘The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) has signed the contract with Macquarie Partnerships for Ireland (MPFI) to build the four new schools which, together, will create 2,700 new school places.
‘These four schools make up the first bundle of PPP school projects to be delivered under the Department of Education and Science’s 2006-2010 PPP programme.
‘Under the PPP model, the schools will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 25 years by MPFI.’
Minister O’Keeffe said he expected the four new schools to be completed by the middle of next year.
‘The two new schools in Portlaoise will share a campus but retain their separate identities, addressing present and future needs for post-primary students in a rapidly developing area.
‘Meanwhile, Ferbane and Banagher will get two new state-of-the-art post-primary schools.
‘Over €1.3 billion has been identified in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 for the provision of educational PPP projects and my Department and the NDFA have a number of other bundles going through the procurement process.
‘One of the main advantages PPP schools have is that the principal is not involved on a daily basis in maintenance and caretaking issues.
‘These become the responsibility of the PPP operator for the period of the contract.
‘I want to pay tribute to all those involved in bringing the project to this stage, particularly the management and principals of the schools.
‘I also want to acknowledge the work of my own Department's staff and the staff of the NDFA who’re responsible for the procurement and delivery of the four schools.
‘I’ll continue to use the PPP model, as appropriate, to supplement the traditional programme of school construction.
‘Projects I’ve announced since the start of the year, excluding these PPP projects, will create over 20,000 new school places by investing a record €656 million in the school building programme,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.
ENDS