Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
490. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the number of schools conducting classes in temporary prefab accommodation; the length of time that such prefabs have been in use; the locations of these temporary buildings in each year since 2016 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36472/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the 3,963 schools (3,240 primary and 723 post-primary) in the State, 405 schools (280 primary and 125 post-primary) are currently using or partially using rented accommodation. The date of individual rentals ranges from 2000 to 2020 and a breakdown of the school by County is below.
|
Breakdown of schools by county |
|||
|
Primary |
Post-Primary |
Total |
|
|
Carlow |
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
Cavan |
10 |
1 |
11 |
|
Clare |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
Cork |
40 |
14 |
54 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
5 |
13 |
|
Dublin |
62 |
18 |
80 |
|
Galway |
17 |
6 |
23 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
Kildare |
10 |
11 |
21 |
|
Kilkenny |
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
Laois |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
8 |
4 |
12 |
|
Longford |
6 |
2 |
8 |
|
Louth |
10 |
6 |
16 |
|
Mayo |
6 |
6 |
12 |
|
Meath |
11 |
6 |
17 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
18 |
3 |
21 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
5 |
10 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
7 |
15 |
|
280 |
125 |
405 |
|
I wish to advise the Deputy that, within 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. In this regard, it is sometimes necessary to make use of rented temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
Furthermore, it may also be necessary to make use of temporary rented accommodation when an immediate or short term need arises. For example, a school may require a temporary building in circumstances where a major school construction project is planned. Such temporary accommodation is removed when the major project concerned is completed. The length of time it is necessary to make use of temporary rented accommodation will vary from project to project.
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 School Accommodation scheme.
