John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school bundle 5; the completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12877/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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On 14 March last, officials from my Department and the National Development Finance Agency, along with representatives of each of the six schools included in the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Programme, met with the Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF). At that meeting, DIF, representing Inspiredspaces (the PPP Company responsible for Bundle 5), provided an update on its plan for the delivery and operation of the six facilities following the liquidation of Carillion.

The update provided by DIF indicated that, as a consequence of the Carillion liquidation, the construction and facilities management agreements have been terminated and are required to be replaced. A number of contractors/service providers have now been invited to quote for finishing the works and for the provision of facilities management services over the 25-year life of the PPP project. DIF expects to receive final bids from tenderers, with whom it has already had extensive engagement, by 5 April.

Based on this, and the expected timeframe for the evaluation of tenders, and appointment and mobilisation of the new contractor/service providers, DIF is targeting all six buildings to be operational for the beginning of the coming school year, with the most advanced schools ready earlier in the summer.

DIF has confirmed that, in conjunction with its lenders, it will deploy all necessary resources towards achieving these targets for delivery and operation of the schools and further education college.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on the site location for the development of a new school (details supplied); the stage these plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12885/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide a new site for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.

Discussions with relevant parties regarding the potential acquisition of a preferred site option are currently in progress with a view to advancing matters as expeditiously as possible.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is in communication with the school patron and representatives to keep them appraised of progress and they will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so.