Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects have been given private finance initiative approval; which projects have been authorised to seek PFI funding; which projects are being considered as suitable for PH funding; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the PFI in Northern Ireland. [15321]
§ Sir John WheelerThe private finance initiative in Northern Ireland is beginning to gather momentum. NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office are committed to making the maximum use of private finance opportunities, and have appointed appropriate personnel to advance the initiative as effectively as possible within their own programmes. Projects approved under the private finance initiative to date include a contract energy services scheme at Holywell hospital, car parking facilities at the Royal group of hospitals, and leasing of medical and other equipment. All capital projects are required to consider private finance solutions, details of projects which are currently under consideration for PFI are given in the table.
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Project Bangor and Kinnegar sewerage treatment works Design, build, finance and operate Hydro electric project Hydro electric scheme Westlink urban motorway Design, build, finance and operate Motorway emergency telephone system Replace and operate system Strangford ferry Replace ferry Holywood road, social security office Government office accommodation Hydebank Government office accommodation DVTA vehicle testing project Vehicle testing and information technology Land registry IT system Computerisation Planning service IT system Computerisation Antrim bus station/library Bus station/library Ulsterbus/Citybus Bus replacement
Project Northern Ireland railways Class 80 rolling stock replacement Ulster folk and transport museum Visitors centre North west institute of further and higher education Additional teaching accommodation Belfast institute of further and higher education Additional teaching accommodation St. Genevieve's high school New accommodation Drumglass high school New accommodation Wellington college Refurbishment Balmoral high school Refurbishment Ulster hospital Extension/refurbishment Downe hospital New block/refurbishment Belfast city hospital New renal dialysis facilities Belfast city hospital Car park facilities on site Causeway hospital Contract energy services Daisy Hill hospital Renal dialysis facilities Craigavon area hospital Contract energy services Clinical waste disposal Development of clinical waste facility Royal group of hospitals Theatres and intensive care equipment T and EA IT system Computerisation In addition to the projects listed on the table, the Department of Education is also undertaking a market sounding study of its schools estate in order to assess the wider potential for PFI in respect of more than 100 high-priority schools projects.