Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2018
127. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has compiled the relevant information necessary to adequately reply to a previous parliamentary question from this Deputy on the number of classes being accommodated in prefabricated classrooms; the number that have been using prefabricated classrooms for two, three, five and more than five years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38927/18]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that funding is being provided by my Department in respect of rented prefabricated accommodation for the schools indicated in the below table. In this regard I wish to advise the Deputy that it is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to determine how classes are accommodated in the property that is available to the school.
Number of Schools with prefab rentals as at 25/09/2018
|
Rental Commenced in 2016 (i.e. 2 years) |
Rental commenced in 2015 (i.e. 3 years) |
Rental commenced in 2013 (i.e. 5 years) |
Rental commenced in 2012 or earlier (i.e. more than 5 years) |
|
82 |
64 |
24 |
150 |
We are building more schools and providing more additional school places than ever before. We have doubled the number of additional school places being provided since 2010. In 2010, some 9,000 school places were created. In 2017, we built approximately 19,000.
The Department recognises that prefabs are a short term solution to urgent accommodation needs and utilises them for such purpose.
It is worth noting that in 2008, about 2,000 rented prefabs were in use, for a smaller school population. At the end of 2017 there were 1,325 rented prefabs, located in 345 schools (256 primary and 89 post-primary), even though there are almost double the amount of new pupils entering the school system than was in 2008. In 2017, we spent half what was being spent in 2008 on rented prefabs.
We are planning for the future. As part of Project Ireland 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion in school buildings over the next decade. This compares to €4.9 billion for the previous 10 year period (2008 to 2017). Project Ireland includes a 70% increase in schools capital funding compared to the past decade (€4.9 billion to €8.4 billion). Investment will rise to €1 billion in 2027, compared to €540 million investment in 2018. This €8.4 billion will allow for;
- Prefab replacement
- Deep refurbishment of existing buildings
- Modernisation of Science and P.E. facilities
- Investment in Digital technology in schools
We are taking an integrated approach with the Prefab Replacement Scheme through the replacement of prefabs as part of large-scale projects or as part of new projects approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Construction work on these projects in 2018 and 2019 will facilitate the replacement of over 600 prefabs.
The Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme is a key mechanism for putting permanent accommodation solutions in place. The projects approved under the Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme are listed on the Department’s website and updated on a weekly basis. 156 of these projects are currently at construction with a further 495 projects in design. Also, as part of the Prefab Replacement Programme, Department approvals under the Additional Accommodation Scheme will now also factor in appropriate provision for the replacement of existing prefabs at the relevant schools. For example, if a school requires an additional classroom and also has a class in a prefab it will be approved for 2 permanent classrooms to be delivered on a devolved basis under the Additional Accommodation Scheme.
