Roche Welcomes new 1,000 place Post-Primary School for Wicklow Town - New School to Open in 2011

Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs has welcomed the announcement that the contract has been signed for Wicklow Town’s new 1,000 place post primary school.

The school project arises from the amalgamation of the Abbey Vocational School and the De La Salle Secondary School.

The school, one of 5 new secondary schools to be built countrywide, will be built under a Public Private Partnership contract signed today between National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and Macquarie Partnerships for Ireland (MPFI).

Under the terms of the contract MPFI will be responsible for the design, build and finance of the new schools. MPFI will also be responsible for the day to day maintenance of the schools. The company will provide a range of facilities, management services including building maintenance, cleaning, security, grounds maintenance and specialist equipment support.

The principle of 'everything works' applies under the PPP process - classrooms, laboratories, specialist equipment, heating and lighting all have to be available every day as part of the contract with MPFI.

“A particularly positive aspect of the approach being employed to bring the new school for Wicklow Town ‘on stream’ is that it allows school management and staff to concentrate on their core educational duties rather than to be concentrating on issues which can have an impact on education but which are not related to teaching. The approach adopted in this contract, an approach which I have advocated for years, will mean that the staff and students of Wicklow Town and the school’s catchment area can look forward to using the most up-to-date designs and facilities in the shortest possible time” Minister Roche said.

The schools covered by the contract will be constructed by Pierse Contracting and John Sisk & Son Ltd, two of Ireland’s principal construction companies.

The project is being supported by the European Investment Bank.