The Irish Minister for Education and Skills has announced that the Inspired Spaces Consortium has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project.

Inspired Spaces is composed of: Equity Provider: Carillion Private Finance (Education) 2012 Ltd & DIF Infra 3 Ireland; Project Manager: Carillion Construction Ltd.; Contractor: Carillion Construction Ltd.; FM Service Provider: Carillion AMBS Ltd.

The Project is part of the €1.4 billion (US$1.48 billion) PPP stimulus package delivering critical social and economic infrastructure across the country.

The project involves building four new post-primary schools, as well as a primary school and a new facility for the Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board site in Mortarstown, Co. Carlow. Building works will take place in four different locations across the country. The 25 year concession comprises the design, build, finance and maintenance of 5 schools on 4 sites. The details of the schools are as set out below:

• Eureka Secondary School, Kells, a new replacement post-primary school to accommodate 750 students;
• Colaiste Raithín Bray, a new replacement post-primary school to accommodate 450 students;
• Carlow, a new post-primary school to accommodate 1000 students;
• Loreto College, Wexford a new post primary school to accommodate 700 students;
• St. Philomena's National School, Bray a new primary school comprising 24 classrooms.

Mr Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, said

"I am delighted that Schools Bundle 5 has reached this significant milestone.  This is great news for the children, young adults and local communities in these areas. It is anticipated that the new school buildings will open on a rolling basis during the second half of 2017".