Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will be in a position to seek tenders for a new secondary school in Skibbereen, County Cork; the proposed timetable for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24044/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is planned to deliver Skibbereen Community School as a part of a bundle of four schools (Schools Bundle 4) through this Department's Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme. The new school will cater for 900 students and will be constructed on a greenfield site at Gortnaclohy, Skibbereen. Planning permission for the proposed school was secured from Skibbereen Town Council on 12 May 2014.

Tenders were received by the National Development Finance Agency in April 2014 and the tender evaluation process is underway. The preferred tenderer is due to be appointed at the end of June, 2014. Construction is anticipated to commence by the end of this year, subject to completion of the PPP financing arrangements by the Preferred Tenderer. All schools in the Schools Bundle 4 PPP Contract are expected to be completed for the start of academic year 2016/17.