08/01/2015

Four New Schools To Be Developed

Construction work has commenced on four new post-primary schools, under the Schools Bundle 4 of the Government's Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme.

The schools and sports pitches will be built by BAM on greenfield sites and are being funded by AIB Corporate Banking and German Bank KfW IPEX-Bank.

The new school buildings are St Mary's College Dundalk, Co Louth; St Josephs Secondary School, Tulla, Co Clare; Comeragh College, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary; and Skibbereen (Replacement) School, Co Cork.

Around 720 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the projects, which range from 6,500 sq m to 10,000 sq m.

Welcoming the commencement of work, Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan said: "I am delighted to see the beginning of construction of almost 3,000 new school places. The students of these four schools will benefit from the opportunity to learn in new and improved teaching spaces and modern educational facilities built to a very high standard.

"These school places are expected to be available from the middle of 2016. The timely progression of this project has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and my own Department and the cooperation of all the other stakeholders in the project."

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin added: "This project follows the successful financial close of two other PPP projects in 2014. I am especially pleased to see the increased competition to fund our PPPs experienced in this case, and I congratulate AIB and KfW IPEX-Bank on their success in co-funding this education project."

(JP)

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