Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 681: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost to the Exchequer and public funds over the next 25 years, for the contract to build, operate and bring into public ownership the two new secondary schools on the Borris Road, Portlaoise, County Laois. [15595/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The contract to design, build, finance, maintain the first bundle of 4 post primary schools was signed by the National Development Finance Agency on 6th March 2009. This bundle includes the provision of new accommodation for Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise and St Mary's CBS on a shared campus in Borris Road Portlaoise as well as Coláiste na Sionna, Banagher and Gallen Community School, Ferbane, Co.Offaly. Construction has commenced on all sites and it is expected that the schools will become operational in September, 2010.

This bundle is part of an on going programme of Public Private Partnership projects and as the financial details associated with this contract are viewed as commercially sensitive I am not in a position to release this information to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 682: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the public private partnerships which his Department have entered into to build schools, primary or secondary, in the past five years; the location and the cost involved in each; and the duration of the contract. [15596/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has entered into three separate contracts to design, build, finance, maintain and operate educational accommodation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the last five years. Two third level projects, the National Maritime College Cork completed in 2003 and the Cork School of Music completed in 2007 are now operational. In addition the contract for the first bundle of post primary schools which includes Coláiste na Sionna, Banagher and Gallen Community School, Ferbane, both Co Offaly and Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise and St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, was signed by the National Development Finance Agency in March 2009.

This bundle is part of an on going programme of Public Private Partnership projects and as the financial details associated with this contract are viewed as commercially sensitive I am not in a position to release this information to the Deputy. Each of these contracts are for 25 years from the date the facilities became operational. The site and buildings remain in State ownership at all times with the PPP Company being granted a licence to build the facilities and maintain and operate them for the 25 years contract period.

The level of Unitary Payment for the two third level projects in 2008 were National Maritime College €8.8m and the Cork School of Music €8.2m.