IPPN

Published: 13 February 2009

Source: Irish Independent

By John Walshe Education Editor

Friday February 13 2009

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe was last night accused of recycling old news when he re-announced six school building projects first promised in 2006.

The official explanation given by his spokesperson was that "these projects were previously approved in principle. Today's announcement means they'll go to tender and construction this year".

But the minister's announcement prompted the INTO to ask: "How many press releases does it take to build a school?"

General secretary John Carr said that in November 2006, the then Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced that the following schools were to proceed "to tender and construction":

* Scoil Bhride, Nurney, Co Kildare.
* Barefield Mixed NS, Ennis, Co Clare.
* Inchicore National School Dublin 10
* Gaelscoil, An Duinninigh, Draighnean, Feltrim, Swords.
* St Mary's Parish Primary School, Drogheda, Co Louth.
* Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire Naofa, Enfield, Co Meath.

"Nearly three years later the current minister includes these schools in an announcement of schools to proceed to tender and construction. This is fooling nobody.

"He's better than his Green Party colleagues in government when it comes to re-using and re-cycling news."

Mr Carr said that what should be provided now was a ministerial explanation of why these schools had not been built in the meantime.

"Is it any wonder there's a slow down in construction when it takes this long to build a school," he said.

The minister said that 43 projects would provide permanent primary school places for over 9,800 pupils in 21 new schools and seven extended and refurbished schools.

At post-primary level, 5,600 students will get new permanent school accommodation in eight new schools.

A further 4,275 students in seven post-primary schools will benefit from a number of major extension and refurbishment projects.

"Five of these school building projects are being re-tendered under the new form of contracts for public capital projects to get the best value for money in the construction sector.

Tender

"The remaining 38 projects will go to tender and construction as soon as possible and it's expected that building work will begin on the majority of these projects this year," Mr O'Keeffe said.

"My officials will shortly be contacting each school about the next steps they should take," said the minister.

He pointed out that, this year, a record €656m will be invested in the school building programme.

"The more competitive environment in the construction sector will allow me to maximise the return I get for the capital resources invested in the school building programme" he said.

- John Walshe Education Editor