The private sector is to build 23 new post-primary schools and four new primary schools under a major expansion of the Government's Public Private Partnership programme (PPP) over the next three years.
Additional places in medical training are set to form part of a further €255 million package for third-level which will also be built in conjunction with the private sector. Full details will be released shortly.
The Government says the PPP model will deliver major education infrastructure at the best possible price and in the shortest timeframe. But the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and others have questioned the reliance on the private sector.
The Government's support for PPPs in education comes despite criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of a pilot project involving the construction of five new schools. The C&AG found that the projected cost of the final PPP deal was 8 per cent to 13 per cent higher than the projected cost of procuring and running the schools using the conventional approach.
Yesterday, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said the programme was a key milestone in delivering Government commitments on school buildings.
She said: "The projects targeted for delivery involve new schools in rapidly developing areas, replacements for existing schools and new accommodation for schools formed by the amalgamation of existing schools and priority projects in the third-level sector."
Under the plans, some primary schools will share a campus with second-level schools in a new departure. The first school projects will begin next year.
Last night, INTO general secretary John Carr expressed doubts about the value for money aspect of the PPP model in schools.
"We have had too many examples of PPPs being used to make exorbitant profits for private investors and said that education should not be allowed to fall into the hands of the moneymen. This could clearly impact on the State's ability to pay for future investment in school buildings," he said.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy stressed that the operation and management of the building should be in the hands of the school authorities at all times.
Fine Gael spokeswoman on education Olwyn Enright said the announcement, while welcome, was long overdue.
But she called on the Minister to outline the steps that she has taken to ensure that these new schools will deliver the best possible value for money for the taxpayer, given the C&AG's findings.
Labour's Jan O'Sullivan also questioned the PPP model. "One of the big arguments put forward for PPPs is that they deliver schools more quickly, but the previous experience was that construction in this way was not significantly faster and took twice as long a originally planned."
PPP schools: 27 schools in 22 locations
1 Ennistymon Community School: amalgamation of Scoil
Mhuire, CBS and vocational school (650 pupils places).
2 Bantry CS: amalgamation of St Goban's College and Ard
Scoil Phobail (650 places).
3 Gaelscoil Bheanntrai: to provide permanent school for
gaelscoil established in 1994.
4 Skibbereen CS: amalgamation of St Fachtna's, Mercy
Heights SS and Rossa College (900 places)
5 Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny: to provide permanent school for Gaelcolaiste established 2000.
6 Dublin Adamstown CC: new school (1,000 places)
7 Adamstown NS: new school.
8 Balbriggan PP: new school (1,000 places).
9 Donabate PP: new school (1,000 places).
10 Coláiste na Coirbe, Galway city: replacement school building (550 places)
11 Galway VS: new school (650 places).
12 Doughiska/Ardaun NS, Galway: new school.
13 St Paul's SS Monasterevin, Kildare: replacement school (600-800 places)
14 Kildare Town CS: amalgamation of St Joseph's Academy, Presentation secondary and vocational schools (800 places).
15 St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise: new building (850 places). To share campus with Scoil Chriost Rí.
16 Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise: new school building (850 places) To share campus with St Mary's CBS.
17 Abbeyfeale CC, Limerick: amalgamation of St Ita's College, St Joseph's secondary and vocational schools (850 places).
18 Limerick Doon/Cappamore SS: amalgamation of St Fintan's Doon, St Joseph's Doon and Coláiste Phobal Mhichil Cappamore.
19 Athboy CS, Meath: amalgamation of St Joseph's secondary and St James' vocational schools (550 places)
20 Eureka SS, Kells: replacement school building (700 places)
21 St Rynagh's CC, Banagher: amalgamation of St Rynagh's vocational school and La Sainte Union (550 places).
22 Gallen CS Ferbane, Offaly: amalgamation of Ferbane vocational school and St Joseph's and St Saran's secondary school (450 places).
23 Tramore CS: Amalgamation of CBS Tramore and Stella Maris (850 places).
24 Gorey PP, Wexford: new school (1,000 places).
25 Wicklow Town CC: amalgamation of Abbey VS and De La Salle SS (1,000 places)
26 Coláiste Raithin, Bray: replacement building (450 places)
27 St Peter's and St Philomena's NS, Bray: amalgamation of two existing schools.
