Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2009
447 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which have availed of the scheme announced by him on 13 July 2008 regarding the possibility of using grants originally intended for prefabs to build permanent accommodation instead; the level of funding which has been provided to schools to engage in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18888/09]
View answerFollowing an analysis of costs in my Department, it is now the practice to purchase rather than rent temporary accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. This will reduce the incidence of long term rental of prefabs. In July of 2008, I introduced a further innovation which allows those schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional accommodation which is likely to last for more than 3 years, and who are being given approval for grant aid, to avail of the option of using their grants either to purchase prefabs or to construct permanent classrooms for the same amount.
While a number of the schools approved to purchase prefabs have not yet indicated to my Department if they intend to provide a permanent accommodation solution, it is expected that in the region of 60 schools will do so. The level of funding in individual cases varies according to the needs of the schools but in all cases it is based on the amount that would have been expected to be expended on prefabricated accommodation. If the tender amount for the permanent accommodation happens to be lower, the grant aid would be adjusted accordingly.
