Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
179. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the assessment of a school (details supplied) will be carried out to determine if the prefabs will be replaced in line with the school's recent application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6784/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy applied for capital funding to replace prefabs and to upgrade its existing classroom accommodation.
The school was advised that it is my Department's intention to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established, over the lifetime of the 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. This will also determine whether or not individual prefabs need to be replaced in the context of the long-term accommodation needs of each individual school. When completed, this assessment will quantify the number of prefabs to be replaced.
It is intended that this assessment, when finalised, will enable the replacement of such prefabs to commence in 2019. A funding provision of €180 million is being made available from 2019 for this initiative in the programme.
In relation to upgrading the school's existing classroom accommodation, the position is that due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the funding available for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet demographic growth, it is not possible at this time to provide funding for this purpose. The school has been advised accordingly.
