Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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649. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to parliamentary question No. 431 of 2 June 2022, the intended timeframe for the construction of bundle 1 and bundle 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32436/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Bundle 1 of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme, comprising six projects, is currently at preferred tenderer stage. A Preferred Tenderer has been appointed and the technical and commercial work streams are currently ongoing. It is currently estimated that the programme will achieve financial close in Q3 2022 with construction activities commencing on all six sites immediately thereafter. The construction duration for the projects is in the region of 24 months and hence the facilities are estimated to become operational from Q4 2024 onwards.

Bundle 2 of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership programme, comprising five projects, is currently at tender (competitive dialogue) stage. Construction price inflation and volatility in the construction market is presenting challenges, however, the procuring authority comprising of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science, the National Development Finance Agency and the Higher Education Authority is working within the parameters of the procurement process to manage these challenges. 

Notwithstanding this, it is currently estimated that the programme will achieve financial close in Q1 2023 with construction activities commencing on all five sites immediately thereafter. The construction duration for the projects is also in the region of 24 months and hence the facilities are estimated to become operational from Q1 2025 onwards.