01/10/2003
Minister cuts first sod on £70m college contract
Employment Minister, Jane Kennedy has cut the first sod on a £70m contract to build two new further education colleges in Dungannon and Omagh.
Work has recently started on these major contracts to design, build, finance and operate the colleges under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative.
The colleges will provide a combined accommodation for around 12,000 full and part-time students. Omagh College is expected to be completed early in 2006, while work on the East Tyrone College, will be carried out over three phases and is due to be completed by September 2006.
Speaking during her visit today, the Minister said: "The Department for Employment and Learning has recognised for some time that the colleges’ accommodation falls short of what is required to meet modern requirements. Today’s event marks significant progress on the path to solving those accommodation needs."
This is the first time that two Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland have come together to undertake a project of this kind. It will also be the first time that two entirely new FE Colleges will be built simultaneously under a Public Private Partnership.
Private sector consortium, Belfast Educational Services, comprising the Newry based construction company O’Hare and McGovern, will build the colleges, while Interserve Investments will service and maintain the colleges with their funders Bank of Ireland.
(MB)
Work has recently started on these major contracts to design, build, finance and operate the colleges under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative.
The colleges will provide a combined accommodation for around 12,000 full and part-time students. Omagh College is expected to be completed early in 2006, while work on the East Tyrone College, will be carried out over three phases and is due to be completed by September 2006.
Speaking during her visit today, the Minister said: "The Department for Employment and Learning has recognised for some time that the colleges’ accommodation falls short of what is required to meet modern requirements. Today’s event marks significant progress on the path to solving those accommodation needs."
This is the first time that two Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland have come together to undertake a project of this kind. It will also be the first time that two entirely new FE Colleges will be built simultaneously under a Public Private Partnership.
Private sector consortium, Belfast Educational Services, comprising the Newry based construction company O’Hare and McGovern, will build the colleges, while Interserve Investments will service and maintain the colleges with their funders Bank of Ireland.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.