Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the next steps in relation to the Bantry schools PPP project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4879/07]

Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the next steps for the Bantry schools PPP project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5104/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 173 together.

Bantry Community College and Gaelscoil Bheanntraí form part of a bundle of six schools that make up the Second Bundle of my Department's PPP Programme. Work on the pre-procurement of this bundle commenced in late 2006. Cork County Vocational Education Committee has obtained outline planning permission for both schools, the educational needs of the schools have been identified and the consultation process, part of the PPP procedure has commenced for the bundle.

The next steps include continuation of the consultation process, preparation of output specifications and the Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). Once the pre procurement is completed the project will be handed over to the NDFA which will be responsible for its procurement.