The Department of Education is hopeful that work on the €60 million Cork School of Music could begin in the first quarter of next year if a proposal from a German construction firm, Hochtief, proves acceptable.
Head of the the Department of Education public/private partnership unit, Mr David Gordon, said he welcomed Hochtief taking over the school contract from UK firm Jarvis, and expected to see a proposal from Hochtief before Christmas.
Mr Gordon said the Department of Education's legal advisers would have to examine the proposal from Hochtief to ensure it conformed to EU procurement regulations. The Department would also be carrying out its own due diligence on the Hochtief proposal.
He said the proposal would have to meet criteria set down by the Department, including no change in contract terms, no change in price and no change to planning conditions. If all goes well, he would expect to see Hochtief on site and work commencing early next year.
The Jarvis Projects Ltd managing director, Mr Patrick Gardiner, yesterday said the takeover of Jarvis's private finance initiative wing by Hochtief would be completed in two stages.
Jarvis's bid to build and maintain the Cork school involved the company agreeing to build, equip and maintain the school for 25 years at a cost of €8.2 million per annum to the State in a public/private partnership deal.