Hanafin announces plan for 27 new schools

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin today announced plans to provide 27 new schools by 2009 under an expansion of the Public Private Partnership Programme (PPP).

The 23 new post-primary schools and four new primary schools will come at a cost of around €300 million.

The scheme is a major expansion of the Government's PPP projects from 2006 to 2009 and is the first time private firms have been asked to help build primary schools.

New schools have been earmarked for areas such as Skibbereen, Adamstown, Monasterevin, Portlaoise, and Gorey.

"This is a new initiative using the PPP model to provide primary schools in a campus sharing context with a new post-primary school," Ms Hanafin said.

The National Development Finance Agency will control the procurement of projects.

Ms Hanafin also said the Department will be allocating €255 million for third-level projects using the PPP model. Full details of the third-level projects and institutions involved will be announced next month.

Meanwhile, the Fine Gael spokesperson on Education, Olwyn Enright, welcomed today's announcement but said that it was long overdue.

"Far too many of our school buildings are in a deeply substandard state," Ms Enright said.

She also called on the Minister to give a firm time-commitment for the completion of the new projects.

"Minister Hanafin has only committed to offering the first school bundle for tender during the first half of 2006. It may be many years before the school buildings announced today are actually available for use, and a firm timescale for delivery should be given," Ms Enright added.