Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the options open to a primary school with prefabricated classroom accommodation owned by his Department which is in need of urgent repair, particularly in consideration of the current replacement scheme which favours schools with rented prefabricated classroom accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9088/14]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My question relates to schools which have prefabricated buildings owned by the Department on which they do not pay rent. I raise this matter because rent is one of the criteria used for choosing replacement classrooms.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that I have sought to prioritise within available funding the replacement of prefabricated accommodation with permanent accommodation and that this work is progressing. Under the prefab replacement initiative, almost €60 million has been approved with the intention of replacing 575 rented prefabricated units in respect of 216 schools nationally. The permanent accommodation will provide modern, high quality accommodation for pupils and teachers.

In the case of schools with purchased prefabricated accommodation which is in urgent need of repair, it is open to such schools to utilise their capitation grants, or minor works grant in the case of primary schools, to undertake such repairs. Where prefabricated buildings have significant structural issues, it is open to the schools to submit an application to my Department for the replacement of such buildings and each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis within the funding available. My Department requests that a technical report and supporting evidence relating to the condition of the prefabricated buildings and outlining the works required accompany any submission.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I commend the Minister and Government on the prefabricated school building replacement programme. Much good work has been done and many new classrooms have been built. I hope the Government, at the end of its tenure, will be recognised for having ended the scourge of prefabricated school buildings.

One of the schools I deal with has a prefabricated building which is owned by the Department. The building is leaking and costs more to heat than the rest of the school buildings. I am pleased the Minister indicated that each application will be considered case by case. The school in question has submitted an application to the Department and I hope it will be considered favourably in future rounds of funding. The school authorities are concerned that the application may not be considered until such time as all rented prefabricated accommodation has been replaced. As I stated, I am pleased applications will be considered case by case.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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If the Deputy can persuade the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to release more money to me, I will have more prefabricated buildings replaced.