Building sector supports schools lease-back plan
- Published: 11 September 2008
THE building industry has welcomed Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's proposals to generate employment by getting developers to build schools that would be leased back by his department.
Mr O'Keeffe has asked builders to construct schools in areas where they are needed, which the Department of Education would then lease and eventually buy back, in a scheme that could speed up delivery of schools projects as well as attacking the slowdown in the construction industry.
The proposed scheme, revealed in the Irish Examiner yesterday, could help bolster a sector that has seen employment fall from 280,000 to 250,000.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) said it was interested in the suggestions for a build-and-lease schools plan.
The industry would certainly be interested in talking to the minister about any initiative of that nature and would welcome discussions on any proposals with him to ensure progress on the school building programme, said CIF housing and planning director Hubert Fitzpatrick.
Another option being considered by Mr O�Keeffe is the extension of Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding to primary school projects.
The minister has also suggested a number of ways in which savings can be achieved by his own department, and through schools being given responsibility for their own projects through a devolved grants scheme. He is insisting that architects reduce their fees for school projects and that boards of management seek more competitive prices in light of the building slowdown.
Mr O'Keeffe said it would be well into the new year before any decision would be made on third-level fees. He said he had been very encouraged by the high level of debate and it was a debate well worth having.
