Athboy school project gets PPP go-ahead

Local politicians, as well as those involved in education in Athboy, have welcomed the news announced on Monday by Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education, that a tender for the Athboy Community School premises is amongst the projects selected under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, with building scheduled to begin next spring, subject to planning permission. Fr Patrick O'Connor, PP, Athboy, and chairman of the school's board of management, said the project was at a very exciting stage and he was delighted with the minister's announcement this week. He explained that they had been working on the project for five years and that a new and innovative design had been drawn up by the architects, which will provide excellent school facilities for 950 students. The proposed location is on a site on the Kells Road. Macquarie Partnerships for Ireland (MPFI) has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model announced by the Department of Education and Science. This is made up of Macquarie Capital Group, John Sisk & Son Holdiings Ltd and Pierse Contractors Ltd. Fr O'Connor said that the added benefit of a PPP school project is that it allows the principal to concentrate on the educational needs of the students, as the contractors are responsible for the maintenance and caretaking of the premises under the terms of the contract. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey also welcomed the news this week. He said: "The advantage of being on the PPP list is that the new school will be built in a much shorter timeframe than would otherwise have been the case. Athboy Community School has been designed by an Irish design team and it will be built by Irish contractors and, in the current climate, this is obviously very welcome news." Meath West Fianna Fail TD, Johnny Brady, has also welcomed the news. "Athboy Community school takes students from a very broad catchment area," he said. "Pupils from many local primary schools in surrounding County Meath are accommodated as well as many pupils from primary schools in nearby north Westmeath. The announcement is good news for families in the greater Athboy area and great news for teachers and students at the school," he said. Under the PPP model, the new Athboy Community School will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 25 years by MFPI. It is hoped that building work, subject to planning permission, will begin in the spring and it should be completed by September 2011. Nationally, over €1.3 million has been identified in the National Development Plan, 2007-2013, for the provision of educational PPP projects.