Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
376. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new primary or secondary classrooms that have been built or provided for, including the replacement of prefabs, since 1 March 2011 by his Department; the cost of same and the projected number of classrooms to be built by the end of 2013 and the cost of this building work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35384/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
In the primary school sector new permanent mainstream classrooms are provided under the Large Scale Projects Programme, the Additional Accommodation Programme and the Prefab Replacement Initiative. In 2011 a total of 413 classrooms were delivered on the completion of 42 large-scale projects and 267 classrooms were provided under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. In 2012 a total of 421 classrooms were delivered on the completion of 39 large scale projects and 212 classrooms were provided under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Data in respect of 2013 will not be available until the end of the year. The Deputy will be aware that under my Department's 2012 Prefab Replacement Initiative, approval was given to 170 schools nationally to replace 458 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million was allocated for this initiative, of which €27.2 million has been paid to date. Of these a total of 142 projects have gone to construction and 55 of these have been completed. The total rental savings achieved by the 55 completed projects are in the region of €1million. These figures will be subject to change as further projects are completed. The initiative will result in savings of approximately €5 million per annum on the rental of prefabs in these schools in the coming years.
In June this year, I announced a further Prefab Replacement Initiative to replace in the region of 115 prefabs in 46 schools with permanent accommodation. A total of €15 million has been allocated in 2013-2014 and this further initiative will result in additional rental savings of €2.5 million per annum. In the post-primary school sector the provision of permanent school places is measured in terms of the Long Term Projected Enrolment (LTPE). In 2011 a total of 8,640 permanent school places were delivered in the post-primary sector with the completion of 9 large-scale projects and 42 additional accommodation projects. In 2012 a total of 5,541 additional permanent school places were delivered in the post-primary sector with the completion of 9 large-scale projects and 29 additional accommodation projects. Data in respect of 2013 will not be available until the end of the year. In 2011 the total expenditure on large scale projects amounted to €205 million and on additional accommodation amounted to €56 million. In 2012 the total expenditure on large scale projects amounted to €224 million and on additional accommodation amounted to just over €56 million. It is not possible to predict accurately the number of classrooms that will be completed in 2013 due to the many variables that can arise on the school building programme. Capital funding available for the delivery of classrooms is on a par with last year but actual expenditure and the level of drawdown of such funding varies from month to month and the 2013 outturn will only be available at year end. Data on a county basis are not readily available.
