School building tenders
Deputy Byrne asks about the number and timing of new school building tenders and the wider backlog of school works. The Minister says the process is standard, schools will learn details when contracts are awarded, and €700 million has been allocated.
The tenders for 20 or 30 new school buildings were published on the eTenders website this week. Can the Minister clarify whether the number of schools is 20 or 30? A list of school buildings was also included in that tender which may be built subject to change. I ask the Minister to clarify when those schools will be given the details of when their buildings will be completed. What about the other thousands of schools which are waiting for major work?
Comment on this
Perhaps the Minister might ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, about this issue.
Comment on this
As the Opposition spokesperson for education, the Deputy is well aware of how this process works. The tenders get put out and, when they are awarded, the teams sit down and work out the details. The schools will find out at that time. Some €700 million was allocated for school buildings this morning.