The NDFA in partnership with Enterprise Ireland is running a series of events aimed at connecting local suppliers to opportunities in the construction sector under the Devolved Schools Programme.
The first event takes place on Thursday 13 June 2013 in CityNorth Hotel, Gormanstown, Co Meath. The information and networking session will provide a platform for local construction suppliers and enterprises to learn more about the schools building programme in the Leinster region and to meet with the five contractors who have been appointed to the Design & Build framework panel on the Devolved Schools Programme. A second event is planned for the Munster region for August 2013 to cover the schools building programme in that region.
The NDFA Devolved Schools Programme consists of 17 schools sites in Leinster, Munster & Connacht with a mix of new builds, extensions and some remedial works to existing schools both at a primary and post primary level.
The five Design & Build contractors that were appointed to the panel include Sammon Group, JJ Rhatigan & Co and Western Building Systems. Two joint ventures are also on the panel – ABM /Clancy Construction & Stewart/Tracey Brothers.
Registration for the event is free and open to construction sector trades in the following categories:
| Earthworks Contractors
Mechanical Contractors Electrical Contractors Passenger Lift Contractors Glazing Contractors Cladding Contractors ICT Contractors (cabling only) Carpentry Contractors Painting Contractors Roofing Contractors Flooring Contractors
|
Furniture & equipment suppliers*
Landscaping subcontractors Paving subcontractors Suspended ceiling subcontractors Blinds subcontractors Waste management subcontractors Cleaning supplies companies Security companies Pest control companies Window cleaning companies Fire prevention maintenance companies *ICT Equipment and loose furniture does not form part of this programme. |
Interested companies can now register to attend by visiting the following website https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/780/register. Attendees are welcome at the venue from 9.30am on Thursday 13 June with the networking session commencing at 10.00 am. There will also be an Enterprise Support zone at the events which will include representatives from the local County Enterprise Boards to provide information on small business supports and details of the INTREO service for employers from the Department of Social Protection.
The NDFA is acting on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (DoES) to deliver on part of its €2 billion major school building programme over the next five years. This programme is historic for the State due to its size and scale with over 100,000 permanent school places to be delivered. This Five Year Plan of investment will create an estimated 15,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs over the period of the programme (an annual average of 3,000 direct and 600 indirect jobs). Within the frameworks of this overall programme, the NDFA Devolved Scheme will deliver almost 10,000 new and refurbished school places across 17 school sites. This is a welcome boost not only to the construction industry but to the communities where building will take place.
Brian Murphy, Chief Executive of the NDFA, welcoming the opportunity to work in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland on this event, said: ‘The NDFA is pleased to work with Enterprise Ireland and other bodies in hosting this event which will provide the SME and construction sector with access to future business opportunities. The NDFA and Enterprise Ireland plan to hold further information and networking events as other projects are rolled out later this year as part of the Government’s PPP Stimulus Package’.
Leo McAdams, Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s Public Procurement Department, said: ‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with the NDFA on this series of networking events. The construction sector has been under severe pressure over the last number of years and the schools building programme provides a tremendous opportunity for enterprises in the market. Enterprise Ireland’s public procurement team is working with both the public sector and Irish SMEs on key procurement opportunities particularly within the national investment programme. The aim is to increase the number of Irish SMEs who win projects with the Irish Public Sector, leading to employment and providing reference sites for companies focussing on export markets’.
Martin Heffernan, Group Business Development Director for Sammon Contracting, stated that: ‘the company is delighted to have been included on the NDFA’s Devolved Schools Framework. This follows successful inclusion on the OPW’s Devolved Schools Framework, and a long, proud history of delivery of Rapid Build Schools and larger scale projects for the Department of Education and Skills’.
For more information on how to register for the first information and networking event please visit
https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/780/register or;
Contact Rowena Reid Tel: 01 2888888 schoolsbuilding@conferencepartners.ie
For more information on NDFA Devolved Schools Programme : http://www.ndfa.ie/TenderCompetitions/DevolvedSchoolsProgramme.htm
