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Public Private Partnership to deliver over 4,500 school places

Education Minister Richard Bruton today announced the signing of the contracts for the commencement of building works in respect of Bundle 5 of the Government’s Public Private Partnership Programme. This programme, announced as part of the Government’s Stimulus Package measures of July 2012, provides for the construction of four new post-primary school projects and one new primary school project. 

The cost of these projects is spread over a 25 year period through annual inflation-linked payments called “unitary charges”, the first of which will be made following completion of the first school building in 2017. 

The new school building projects are:

  • Coláiste Raithín, Bray, Co. Wicklow
  • St. Philomena’s Primary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow
  • Tyndall College, Carlow
  • Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath
  • Loreto College, Wexford

 Minister Bruton said:

Investment in education is a prime way to grow our society and economy together. Investing in educating improves human capital, ensuring that all our people have opportunities to achieve their potential, as well as generating wider benefits for our economy. Apart from the construction of these new school buildings, Inspiredspaces will provide for the day-to-day caretaking, maintenance and cleaning of the school leaving the management and staff of the school with more time to concentrate on their core educational activities. The students of these five schools will benefit from the opportunity to learn in new and improved teaching spaces and modern educational facilities built to a very high standard. The first of these school places is expected to be available in September 2017.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe said:

Putting in place long-term arrangements for developing and maintaining these modern and fit-for-purpose facilities will allow school management to focus on the education of the more than 4,500 students who will benefit from these developments.