Jarvis plc (“Jarvis”) wins Ireland’s first PPP schools project

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) project involves a total development cost of over IR£63 million (£52 million) and has a whole life value, at current prices, of some IR£200 million (£167 million).

The five second-level schools concerned will initially have a total of approximately 3,500 pupils. They are located in Ballincollig, Co. Cork (1,000 pupils); Dunmanway, Co. Cork (700); Clones, Co. Monaghan (500); Shannon, Co. Clare (600); and Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo (675).

The new schools will occupy approximately 35,000 m² and will include highly advanced IT and Communications systems. They will have extensive sports and leisure facilities, which will be available for community or commercial use outside specified school hours.

Over the life of the contract, Jarvis will provide a range of facilities management services including building maintenance, cleaning, security, ground maintenance and IT and communications support.

Jarvis has assembled a team of professionals and contractors from within Ireland to design and deliver these new concept facilities, which Jarvis will manage with the benefit of its significant PPP experience.

Funding for the project has been arranged by David Wylde Project Finance, Jarvis’ project finance arm, and is provided by Barclays Infrastructure Fund and Barclays Bank, on a non-recourse basis.

Work on the construction element of the project is due to be completed by August 2002.

This award further reinforces Jarvis’ position as a market leader in the schools PPP sector. The group has signed 13 separate schools PFI contracts through which it will provide and maintain improved educational facilities for some 60,000 pupils and staff in 54 schools across the UK.

The project is the first educational PPP undertaken by the Irish Government. Ireland currently has about 800 schools and in excess of 362,000 pupils. It is also the first overseas schools project to be undertaken by Jarvis, which sees the development of PPP activities outside the UK as a natural extension for its business.

Jarvis is already working on a £30 million development of 16 new courts for the Northern Ireland Courts Service in a new landmark building in Belfast City centre and is preferred bidder for the provision of a 430 bed student accommodation facility for the New Ulster University

The Irish Minister for Education and Science, Dr. Michael Woods T.D., said, "I am delighted we have reached the point where the first of the Irish Public Private Partnership Pilot projects has reached Preferred Bidder status. The new facilities to be provided by Jarvis and its team will provide superb teaching and learning environments as well as offer a range of community facilities. Ireland has a reputation for excellence in teaching and I see this pilot Public Private Partnership project as building on our achievements with the provision of the new school facilities in the five locations across the country. We look forward to working closely with Jarvis in this long-term partnership and seeing the many benefits for the teachers, students and local communities.”

Henry Lafferty, Chief Executive of Jarvis Accommodation Services, the division that will manage the contract, says: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to provide the Irish Department of Education and Science with five new schools. Our success in PPP projects of this kind is testament to our ability to provide a complete range of integrated services. By managing the financing, design, construction and facilities management of a school, whole-life costs are minimised, to the benefit of all parties.”


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