Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will elaborate on the nature and need for four PPP projects worth €100 to €250 million being pursued by the Office of Public Works under the Government's decentralisation programme. [4068/07]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The buildings being provided under the Government's Decentralisation Programme using the Public Private Partnership model are required to accommodate staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment in Carlow, the Department of Agriculture in Portlaoise, the Department of Education & Science in Mullingar and the Department of Social & Family Affairs in Drogheda. The method of procurement will be Design, Build, Finance and Maintain.

The buildings in Carlow, Portlaoise and Mullingar are being treated as a single project and Expressions of Interest have already been received from a number of potential developers and are currently being evaluated by the Office of Public works in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency. Tenders for this project will be invited at the earliest possible date.

The Drogheda project is at an early stage of the procurement process and discussions on sites acquisition are continuing between the OPW and Drogheda Borough Council. Finalisation of the brief of accommodation requirements is also being pursued with the Department of Social & Family Affairs.

In relation to the Carlow, Portlaoise and Mullingar buildings, the following provides an overview of the nature of the project. The Carlow Decentralised Building involves the provision of office buildings(s), comprising approximately 7,250 square metres, to accommodate approximately 300 staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

The Portlaoise Decentralised Building involves the provision of office building(s), comprising approximately 20,000 square metres, as a Headquarters for the Department of Agriculture & Food to accommodate approximately 850 staff. A central storage facility of approximately 2,000 square metres is also being provided.

The Mullingar Decentralised Building involves the provision of office building(s), comprising approximately 8,240 square metres, to accommodate approximately 320 staff of the Department of Education & Science.