AQW 14268/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 02/09/2024
Answered On Date: 09/09/2024
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether the approved business case for Strule Shared Education Campus demonstrated value for money for the project.

Answer:

The procurement of the main work contract for the Strule Shared Education Campus was taken forward under a Ministerial Direction endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2021. The Direction gave authority to proceed with the programme to completion, with review at key points.

Value for Money could not be determined definitively in regard to the main works procurement due to the lack of competitive tension in the Competitive Procedure by Negotiation process and the lack of a directly comparable benchmark project in the schools’ estate

As Strule proceeded to procurement under a 2021 Ministerial Direction which was endorsed by the then Executive, on 18 July 2024, the Northern Ireland Executive reviewed the completed Full Business Case and up-to-date programme position and costs and in light of the position re VFM as set out above, agreed it should immediately proceed to contract award.