John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the future of public private partnerships and the role that they will play in the building of roads, schools and Government projects in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40274/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is my view that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) can continue to play a valuable role in delivering public infrastructure alongside more traditional procurement. PPP procurement represents the most suitable method for securing additional private financing for capital investment as there is a degree of familiarity with the PPP process, and we have already put in place the legislative, guidance and institutional framework. Assuming that a project itself makes sense, what the State wants from PPPs is efficiency, speedy delivery and most importantly value for money.

The PPP model has provided roads, schools and water services on a value for money basis and that are delivered on time. While access to PPP funding is difficult to secure in the current economic environment it remains an option to complement Exchequer funding when circumstances allow. Such proposals would of course have to be on the right terms for the tax payer.

I understand that a preferred bidder has been selected for Schools bundle 3 and a further two schools bundles are being prepared which were announced as part of the Jobs Initiative. In addition as outlined in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework which I published on 10 November, the National Roads Authority is seeking to progress a number of roads projects as PPPs, the most advanced of which are the N11/Newlands Cross Interchange and the N17 Gort/Tuam.