Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed that the Minister could not inform me of the total number of prefabs in the country where his Department has spent over €50,000. The fact that he cannot even give an estimate of that speaks volumes for the sense of chaos that exists within the Department.

At a time when commercial and residential rents are falling through the floor, he is effectively proposing to spend the same amount of money this year as last on renting prefab buildings. Never mind the consultants' report and what they produce at the end of this year. Would he not now consider a rent control policy under which he would immediately inform the 26 suppliers up and down the country that he wants to renegotiate directly with them on behalf of the schools in question and in terms of the amount of money, €50 million this year, the State is giving to them, given the extraordinary crisis facing the country and the challenges for his Department's budget in using resources for front line services?

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