Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I want to put on record my dissatisfaction with what I would describe as the Department of evasion and smoke, masquerading as the Department of Education and Science. This is but one example of a series of replies that deliberately set out to mislead Deputies; to either lie to us in factual terms or simply to avoid answering written questions.

I will give the House an example of what I mean. I asked the following two-line written question of the Minister for Education and Science:

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools using prefab classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Her reply, which extends over two pages, states the following:

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available.

While comprehensive information is held on individual school files, the Department does not yet have these details available in a format that provides readily accessible cumulative information on the overall position. It is, however, intended to address this issue as part of a general review of rental policy currently being undertaken.

In the short time available to me, I wish to make a brief statement. To double the capitation grant from its present level of €178 per primary school student over a five year period, which is in the programme for Government, would cost less than 1% of the current €9.3 billion budget of the Department of Education and Science. The Minister is incapable of responding to that request, made jointly in a letter from the patrons of the five institutions that are currently the patrons in our primary school system. She is incapable of making a response to meet the need for extra primary education resources because she simply does not know how much she is paying out by way of rental for prefabs.

The prefabs to which I refer are buildings that will have a life expectancy way in excess of what it says on the tin, so to speak. There are children going through our primary school system, in the second richest country in Europe, who will spend their entire educational life in prefabs. There are teachers who, when it rains, as it is doing now, wear wellingtons in school because they must move from one classroom to another. In the Educate Together school outside Drogheda, for example, the teachers must bring wellingtons to school because there are no corridors connecting the prefab classrooms. This is a crime against future generations.

The Minister's reply — this the third time I have sought to have it raised on the Adjournment — is a testimony to the skills of obfuscation, evasion and down-right deceit. It represents a refusal, ultimately, by those on the other side of the House to recognise that they operate in a republic in which not only are they a Government, but they are also accountable to the elected Deputies on this side of the House, to whom they must give straight answers to straight questions. The two page response to a two line question asking how many prefabs are in use begins with the words, "The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available". Is it any wonder the Department of Education and Science — what a contradiction in terms — is in utter chaos?

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin. As the Deputy will be aware from the Minister's reply to his previous question, the position is that while comprehensive information is held on individual school files, the Department does not yet have these details available in a format that provides readily accessible cumulative information on the overall position on temporary accommodation. This issue is, however, being addressed as part of a general review of rental policy being undertaken. Information is being collated on schools which have received approval from the Department for temporary accommodation. It will be used to produce a database of information which will be maintained on an ongoing basis. The Minister will ensure the Deputy receives the information sought once it is available.

In addition to developing a database, the review of rental policy will involve the development of new procedures for both short-term rental and purchase and a draw-down contract for supply and installation of temporary accommodation on a regional basis. Existing rental contracts will also be investigated with a view to establishing if there is potential for better value for money. In the meantime, the Department is examining all applications for additional accommodation on an individual basis to determine if there is a need and what is the most appropriate solution.

The Deputy will be aware that demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly in recent years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. Against this background, the Department has nonetheless managed to keep expenditure on temporary accommodation low. Last year rental costs only amounted to 5% of the total investment in school buildings. Where accommodation is needed at short notice, however, a temporary solution can be the only option. Such accommodation may also be used where the need is short term such as when a school requires a temporary building while it is awaiting the completion of construction of permanent facilities. However, the emphasis will continue to be on providing permanent accommodation, where possible.

This year more than €586 million will be invested in school buildings and construction work will take place which is expected to provide permanent accommodation for approximately 20,000 pupils when complete. In the past newly recognised schools have generally been required to open in temporary accommodation. As the Minister pointed out in her previous discussion of the issue with the Deputy, she has been anxious to move away from this approach in developing areas. This year the Department is working hard to open as many new schools as possible in permanent accommodation. Departmental officials have been working in partnership with local authority staff to acquire sites needed for new schools next September. The aim, where possible, is to put permanent solutions in place on a phased basis to meet the immediate September 2008 needs, with a second phase to follow as required. Permanent solutions will be possible where a long-term site has been secured. The Deputy will be pleased to learn that this ambitious programme is on target. Not only has expenditure on temporary accommodation been kept to only about 5% of total investment in school buildings in recent years, the Department is also working hard to open new schools in permanent accommodation from the outset.