Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made with regard to the proposed construction of a new community college in Bantry, County Cork; when he expects work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7010/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The second Schools PPP bundle, which consists of six schools including a new community college in Bantry, Co. Cork, was handed over to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in May 2008. The NDFA advertised the bundle in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEC) on 20th May 2008. This tender competition is being procured using the competitive dialogue procedure as provided for under Community Directive 2004/EC/18 and three Short-listed Candidates were invited by the NDFA to commence the dialogue process on the 18th September 2008. During this process, the Candidates will develop their design and construction solutions as well as commercial proposals for each of the six schools.

A number of formal meetings are under way with each of the Candidates to assess the developing solutions during the dialogue, at the end of which process the NDFA will then invite final, fixed price tenders. The expected timeframe for these final tenders is summer 2009. Following evaluation of the tenders received, an announcement on the appointment of the Preferred Tenderer, being the most economically advantageous tender, is anticipated in early autumn 2009. Construction is expected to commence, subject to the planning process, in early 2010.