Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

We have written to 900 schools that have received sanction from us and we have received replies from most of them. As soon as the information is available I will give it to the Deputy. There are schools which are set up that do not get immediate permanent recognition. We will not put those in a permanent building if they do not have permanent recognition. There are schools that need temporary accommodation and they get it. There are schools that need accommodation immediately and they get it, because of whatever pressure is on them. We have to be flexible enough as a Department to be able to do that.

We are also taking on board the suggestions, ideas and comments made by the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the purchase of temporary accommodation as opposed to its rental and the policy of having an inventory. That is exactly what we are doing.

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