Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on reports that a company (details supplied) is in financial difficulties and is seeking to sell on Irish public private partnership, PPP, contracts it has in connection with school construction and maintenance. [2567/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that the company referred to by the Deputy entered compulsory liquidation earlier this week. It has been a 50% shareholder in Inspiredspaces, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for the construction, finance, operation and maintenance of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Schools Bundle 5 programme. This programme will deliver 6 schools on 4 sites in Wicklow, Wexford, Meath and Carlow.

Inspiredspaces continues to be the SPV for the project and the project agreement (i.e. contract) signed with it in July 2016 similarly remains in place. It is now up to the other 50% shareholder in the SPV, Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), to continue to perform the contractual obligations of Inspiredspaces.

My officials will continue to monitor the situation closely and to liaise in relation to next steps with the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) as, through the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), it is responsible for the management of this project agreement on behalf of my Department.