Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 March 2009
250 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money that was spent by his Department on renting prefabs in Donegal since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10631/09]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the years 2006 and 2007 is not readily available; however, I can say that the total amount spent on renting prefabricated units for schools in Co. Donegal for 2008 was €1.41m.
The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. The overall policy goal is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population, the necessity to put additional accommodation in place in a short time frame, and competing pressure on the capital budget available to my Department, it is necessary to make use of temporary accommodation in order to meet accommodation needs in some circumstances.
251 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent by his Department on early childhood education in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with a breakdown of that expenditure; the number of children attending preschool education in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10642/09]
View answerThe information requested is not readily available to my Department. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
