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Building work will begin next spring on two new Bantry schools, the Department of Education has confirmed.
Macquarie Partnerships for Ireland (MPFI) was selected as the preferred tenderer for the projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The two Bantry schools, which are co-located on the same site, are among five post-primary schools and one primary in the second bundle of PPP projects.
Schools Minister Batt O'Keeffe said MPFI was selected following a competitive tendering process.
"Bantry Community College will be a new school for 700 students arising from the amalgamation of St Goban's College and Árdscoil Phobal Bheanntraí.
"And Gaelscoil Bheanntraí - a new eight-classroom primary school for 228 pupils - will be built on the same sitem," he said.
The six schools in the second PPP bundle are Bantry Community College, in Co Cork; Abbeyfeale Community College, in Co Limerick; Athboy Community School, in Co Meath; Kildare Town Community School, in Co Kildare; Wicklow Town Community College, in Co Wicklow; and Gaelscoil Bheanntraí, in Co Cork.
Under the PPP model, the schools will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 25 years by MPFI.
The Department of Education said building work would commence in the spring, with completion expected by September 2011.
Over €1.3bn has been allocated under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 for the provision of educational PPP projects.
"Building work is already under way on the first bundle of PPP school projects while my Department and the National Development Finance Agency are progressing other projects through the procurement process," said Minister O'Keeffe
One of the main advantages PPP schools have is that the principal is not involved on a daily basis in maintenance and caretaking issues.
Mr O'Keeffe said he would continue to use the PPP model, "as appropriate, to supplement the traditional programme of school construction".
The six schools have been designed by Irish design teams and they will be built by Irish contractors - an important boost for the country’s construction industry in challenging times.
(PR/BMcC)
