Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. We certainly will and we will keep making the case for it. The Deputy was not a Member at the time, but thankfully this Government adopted a commonsense approach, along the lines of the Deputy's comments, whereby prefabs were replaced with classrooms where possible.

I do not have the figures in front of me, but every year for the past three years there have been major developments in removing prefabs and replacing them with permanent, stand-alone classrooms, something which should have been done years ago. Many of us in the House have mentioned this issue, but it took a new Government to start the process. The former Minister, Deputy Quinn, changed the model in his first year in office. There has been a serious spend on new classrooms to remove prefabs which were rented and were, as the Deputy said, a waste of money. Things have moved on.

We are trying to get money from wherever we can to fund new projects. The summer works scheme and other such schemes help to protect the existing infrastructure and provide a better place to educate our young people. I stress that the applications which were met involved gas works, electrical works, mechanical works, toilet facilities and roof works, and were major priorities. The other areas of priority include window projects, curriculum requirement projects and other structural improvements which are needed. Money was spent on essential areas. The Deputy is correct and we will try to find more money where we can.

The applications made under last year's summer works scheme are still held in categories 7 to 10, which did not always happen. If money becomes available, it can be, it is to be hoped, dished out to the outstanding applications. In case there is any confusion, I wish to clarify that category 4 applicants for the previous summer works schemes relate to projects to facilitate access to schools for pupils with special needs. These applications are now considered under the Department's emergency works scheme, which is right. They get higher priority, something with which I think the Deputy would agree.

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