24 March 2000

ADAM INGRAM ANNOUNCES £30 MILLION CAPITAL PROGRAMME FOR OMAGH & EAST TYRONE COLLEGES OF FURTHER EDUCATION

A £30 million building programme aimed at addressing the serious accommodation problems of Omagh and East Tyrone Colleges of Further and Higher Education was given the go ahead today by Minister of State, Adam Ingram.

Confirming that it is the Government’s intention to forward schemes at both colleges through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Mr Ingram said: "I am delighted to be able to announce this major capital investment in Omagh and East Tyrone Colleges.

"As with all our further education colleges, the colleges in Omagh and East Tyrone are an essential part of the communities which they serve. It is vital that they have the facilities necessary to meet the modern requirements of society and the economy.

"This investment reinforces the Government’s commitment to the further education sector and the central role the sector is playing in developing the knowledge-based economy that is essential if Northern Ireland is to compete and succeed in the global marketplace."

The Minister explained that discussions will take place over the next few weeks with both colleges to get the projects off the ground.

He added: "The Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment will wish to explore, to the full, the potential of both projects for PFI. If value for money can be demonstrated, I will look to the private sector to come forward, in due course, with creative and affordable solutions to the needs of both colleges."

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Omagh College serves its local community; East Tyrone serves two district Council areas and population centres - Dungannon and Cookstown. They provide a comprehensive range of vocational and non-vocational courses from basic to higher level. Each has a vocational enrolment of approximately 2,500 students.

Both Colleges have poor accommodation which fails to meet modern requirements and their accommodation needs have been accorded a high priority.

The preferred option in the economic appraisal for the East Tyrone scheme is a newbuild college on the existing site at Dungannon, together with a conversion/extension of the Cookstown premises, at an estimated capital cost of over £16m.

The preferred option for Omagh is a newbuild college on the existing or a new site within half a mile of the town centre, at an estimated capital cost of over £13m.

The Public Finance Initiative (PFI) is a procurement process aimed at securing best value for money. Under PFI, private sector companies build, design, finance and maintain a public service building. Once the building is complete and operational, the companies then receive an annual fee from the public service for use of the facility.

For further information please contact Simon Burrowes on 01232 257831 or 0850 976067.