Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
202. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commence the replacement of prefabricated classrooms under the programme for Government before 2019; if he will replace both purchased and rented pre-fabricated accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, it is my intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to replace school prefabs with permanent accommodation over the lifetime of my Department's capital programme 2016-2021. To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to deliver the curriculum to determine whether or not individual prefabs need to be replaced in the context of the long-term accommodation needs of each school involved from a demographic viewpoint. When completed, this assessment will quantify the number of prefabs, both rented and purchased, to be replaced. At that time, a cost estimate will be possible taking into account that the outlay for replacing a prefab with a permanent building will vary from school to school depending on site conditions, planning conditions and other site specific costs. It is intended that this assessment when finalised will enable the replacement of such prefabs to commence in 2019.
