The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in partnership with Enterprise Ireland is running an information and networking event connecting local suppliers to opportunities in the construction sector under the Devolved Schools Programme.

The event takes place on Thursday 15 August 2013 in the Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Co Cork, at 9.30am. Munster-based construction suppliers and enterprises will learn more about the schools building programme in the region and have an opportunity to meet with the five contractors who have been appointed to the Design & Build framework panel on the Devolved Schools Programme. Attendees will also find out how to become a sub supplier.

The NDFA Devolved Schools Programme consists of 17 schools sites in Leinster, Munster and Connacht with a mix of new builds, extensions and some remedial works to existing schools both at a primary and post primary level. There are six school sites that have been selected in Munster for inclusion on the programme: three schools in Cork - Watergrasshill National School; Cloughduv National School and CBS Midleton; two schools in Miltown, Co. Kerry - Kerry Presentation Secondary School and the Nagle Rice National School. A new school will be built in Limerick as part of the programme which will be an amalgamation of Galvone National School and Southhill National School. A new post primary school for 1,000 pupils will also be built in Athenry, Co Galway.

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The five Design & Build contractors that were appointed to the panel include Sammon Group, JJ Rhatigan & Co and Western Building Systems. Two joint ventures are also on the panel - ABM /Clancy Construction & Stewart/Tracey Brothers.

Registration for the event is free.

Interested companies can now register to attend by visiting the following website NDFA Devolved Schools Meet the contractor event (Munster). There will also be an Enterprise Support zone at the event where attendees can meet representatives from local business support organisations including local enterprise boards, the Europe Enterprise Network operating under Cork Chamber and also get information on the Pathways to Work initiative from the Department of Social Protection.

The NDFA is acting on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (DoES) to deliver on part of its €2bn major school building programme over the next five years. This programme is historic for the State due to its size and scale with more than 100,000 permanent school places to be delivered.

(CD/JP)