Poor communication leads to delays in school services
Hochtief, the company contracted to the Department of Education to maintain the five public private partnership (PPP) schools, is liable for financial penalties where services are not provided.
The schools were opened in 2003 at Ballincollig and Dunmanway, Co Cork, Shannon, Co Clare, Clones, Co Monaghan and Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.
The department is due to pay Hochtief about €283 million over the 25 years of the deal to cover maintenance of the buildings and to operate services such as waste management, cleaning and security.
However, schools and their principals raised doubts with the CAG about whether the company is fully providing these services, for which it is paid more than €1.4 million a year. The CAG’s John Purcell questioned whether procedures in the department are sufficient toconfirm the delivery of services.
“While an abridged version of the PPP company’s monthly report is sent to the schools, the department does not seek a response or confirmation of performance from them,” said Mr Purcell.
Among the issues raised were the ending of a liaison committee between the company, schools and the department, and low community usage of the facilities for which income goes to the school.
It was also reported that pottery kilns could not be used because of a lack of ventilation, schools were not given energy management reports to help reduce costs and one school had a subsidence problem in the grounds.
In its response, the department said many of the issues were historic and had already been addressed or would be addressed during the summer holidays.
He said reporting needs to be strengthened as the original contract required the company would identify and agree with the department any deductions required arising from shortcomings on services.
“While there were no major unavailability issues which would have required deductions, there were a number of quality failures which, when taken in aggregate, could have resulted in deductions,” he wrote.
The department said it has incorporated lessons learned from the pilot PPP school projects in contracts for the National Maritime College and the Cork School of Music.
