Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I was not long in this office before Deputy Quinn first brought this matter to my attention and I was concerned at the level of funding being allocated to that particular area. I was of the view that it needed to be restructured and reviewed. I am doing precisely what Deputy Hayes is asking me to do. This group of experts is in contact with the 26 suppliers and looking at the length of time prefabs have been rented and the amount of money being paid with a view to carrying out a review of long-term rentals and deciding how much more appropriate levels may be achieved, as well as facilitating the Department in taking some of this accommodation into direct ownership.

I want to stress, however, that, given what has happened over the past number of years, we can never reach a point where temporary accommodation will not be needed. That is a fact of life. If one looks at the developing areas around this city, one finds there will be a demand. There was a presentation this morning showing how such demand may be anticipated and met. The Deputy will be aware, for example, that temporary recognition for a school may be forthcoming if there are 17 pupils on the roll and full recognition may be granted after three years if there are 54 pupils. However, in the interim period, temporary accommodation must be provided.

The Deputy will also be aware that I have put a system in place which gives schools that have received approval for a prefab the option of putting a permanent structure in place. As a matter of interest, some 52 projects have been completed in small schools in this area and 172 projects are under construction at present. It is, therefore, a system that is actually taking off.

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