Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) since its foundation; the number of prefabs currently in use; the potential additional capacity which might be available in the short term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42983/20]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy opened in 2007 and was located in interim accommodation initially for 6 months.
The school subsequently relocated to its current location in Department owned temporary accommodation comprising 16 temporary classrooms. These classrooms are located on the grounds of the local GAA club and rent is paid to the GAA for the use of its grounds. As the temporary classrooms are Department owned, no costs arise for the provision of the physical accommodation. The total cost associated with rental arrangements to date amounts to €705,255.
With regard to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, my Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper for the construction of a new school. When this has been acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated.
