The managing director of the construction firm appointed to build the new €60 million Cork School of Music yesterday predicted the contract would be signed for the project in September and construction work would begin in October.
Mr Pat Gardiner, managing director of Jarvis Projects Ltd, yesterday insisted the latest delay in the Department of Education and Science signing the contract was unrelated to difficulties that Jarvis's parent company was experiencing in Scotland where delays cost it a £163 million (€241.9 million) contract.
Jarvis UK had been due to build nine schools in Fife in a private public partnership similar to that being used to build the CSM but it is understood that Scotland's educational authorities were concerned that the company was not financially secure enough to honour its 25-year contract.
Under the proposed contract, Jarvis Projects will build, equip and maintain the Cork School of Music for 25 years at a cost to the Department of Education and Science of €8.2 million per annum for each year of the contract.
Yesterday, Mr Gardiner expressed confidence that the work on the school would start in October and would be completed within two years - in time for music students starting the autumn term in 2006.
Mr Gardiner said the most recent delay was due to the company having to completely satisfy their bankers, Barclays, about the exact terms of the contract including some minor planning matters and user requirements for the new school.
"We were ready to go three years ago but the Government put a hold on the project - now we're almost ready to go - everybody is working very hard.
"I have a huge amount of sympathy with the people in the Cork School of Music but it will go ahead and be a wonderful building," he said.
The CSM is part of Cork Institute of Technology and CIT head of development, Mr Michael Delaney, also expressed confidence yesterday that the contract would be signed shortly and construction work on the school would begin in October.
Mr Delaney also pointed out that the €8.2 million which will be paid to Jarvis each year covers not just maintenance but also capital repayments on the €60 million investment, interest, insurance as well as the provision and replacement of equipment over a 25-year period.
A music school lecturer, Mr Gerry Kelly - who led the campaign among staff for a new school - pointed to the recent signing by CIT of a contract with SIPTU for the rental of Connolly Hall as a temporary location for the school during construction as a very positive sign.
"We haven't received any feedback suggesting any major problem and a slight delay at this stage isn't going to bother us in view of what's going to be achieved - we're looking forward to seeing the school go up during Cork's reign as Capital of Culture in 2005."