Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Finance if a site has been identified for the decentralisation of the Department of Education and Science to Mullingar; if the contract has been awarded; if so, when the contract was awarded; the site chosen; the time frame for works on this site; when the Department is due to take up residency in Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9403/07]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Terms have been agreed on a suitable site in Mullingar. Contracts for sale are being processed by the Chief State Solicitor.

An advertisement was placed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the national newspapers and in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced developers/contractors who wished to be considered in connection with the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Education and Science in Mullingar. This is part of a major PPP project which also involves the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Carlow and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Portlaoise. The project will be procured on a Design/Build/Finance/Maintain basis and a single contract will be placed covering the three buildings. Financial advice is being provided to the OPW by the National Development Finance Agency.

Evaluation of the Expressions of Interest received has now been completed and a short-list of developers/contractors has been identified from whom tenders will be invited in the very near future. When selected, it will be a matter for the preferred tenderer to secure a satisfactory planning permission in respect of each of the locations. On receipt of satisfactory planning permissions, the preferred tenderer will be instructed to prepare working drawings, specifications and Bills of Quantities with a view to a contract being placed and construction work commencing on the three sites. All going well, construction is expected to be completed in early 2009.