Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of children at primary and second level currently accommodated in prefabricated or other forms of temporary buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9299/15]
View answer521. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to be in a position to replace any remaining temporary classrooms with permanent structures, in respect of primary and secondary level schools throughout County Kildare, notwithstanding the progress to date in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9303/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 521 together. My Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. However, even despite the enormous financial challenges which have been faced in recent years, two iterations of the Prefab Replacement Scheme were funded by my predecessor. Under the Prefab Replacement Initiative 2012 and 2013 approval was given to 217 schools (209 primary and 8 post-primary) to replace 614 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €57 million has been allocated to these initiatives. In addition to the prefab replacement initiatives as part of my Department's large scale school building programme, prefab accommodation continues to be replaced with permanent structures on an on-going basis. My Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils in individual schools who currently occupy temporary accommodation; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year.
