Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
380. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year net saving of replacing all rented prefabs with permanent accommodation, assuming the cost of providing same is already accounted for. [31682/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of replacing 100 prefab units with permanent accommodation. [31684/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 382 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that it is the overall policy of my Department to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. In the context of a rapidly increasing school population, my Department's priority is to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and in this regard, it is sometimes necessary to make use of temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
The costs associated with replacing existing prefabricated units with permanent accommodation will vary depending on a range of factors including the extent of the accommodation to be provided, linking new permanent accommodation with existing facilities, site topography, geographical location of the school and costs associated with complying with statutory requirements. In that context, it is not possible to accurately estimate the full year net savings or the cost of replacing 100 prefabricated units.
My Department is taking an integrated approach with the Prefab Replacement Programme through the replacement of prefabricated units as part of large-scale and devolved projects, or as part of new projects approved under the Additional Accommodation scheme. It is anticipated that construction activity in 2018 and 2019 will involve over 130 large-scale projects and circa. 280 smaller scale projects under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects will see the replacement of over 600 prefabs which is a key element of our prefab replacement programme.
