Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 781: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the commencement date for schools (details supplied) in County Offaly granted under the public private partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20641/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 782: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the commencement date for schools (details supplied) in County Laois granted under the public private partnership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20642/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 781 and 782 together.

The first bundle of schools to be built in the my current PPP Programme were handed over to the NDFA for procurement in September 2006. The new schools to be provided are St. Mary's CBS and Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise which will be built on the one site. Gallen Community School, Ferbane, Co. Offaly which is an amalgamation of Ferbane Vocational School and St. Joseph's & St. Saran's Secondary School and Coláiste na Sionna, Banagher, Co. Offaly which is an amalgamation of La Sainte Union Secondary school & St. Rynaghs Community College.

Tenders for the schools were returned to the NDFA in July 2007 and the tender evaluation process commenced directly after that date. The Tender Evaluation phase is now nearing completion and a preferred bidder will be appointed shortly.