Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost to her Department of the purchase and rental of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation units in the last school year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19895/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Financial data relating to the operation of the School Building Programme are maintained on a calendar year basis. The information which I am providing below reflects this position in the calendar year to December 2005.

Capital expenditure of €6.468 million was incurred in respect of the purchase of prefabricated buildings at primary and post primary level in 2005. This expenditure included the supply and installation of prefabricated buildings, associated site works and related costs such as compliance with planning permission conditions, professional fees, and connections for water, electricity and sewage. This expenditure represents 1.29% of the €501.262m expenditure on school buildings in 2005.

Current expenditure on rental of temporary school premises, which includes the cost of renting prefabricated buildings, in 2005 was €15.75m or less than 3.2% of the total expenditure on school buildings in the same period.

The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years mainly due to the rapid expansion in teacher numbers particularly in the area of special needs, the growth in the school-going population in rapidly developing areas and the demands to cater for diversity through the recognition of new Gaelscoileanna and Educate Together schools.

The focus within my Department is to empower schools to resolve their accommodation needs, wherever possible, in a permanent manner rather than relying on temporary accommodation. In order to reduce the amount of temporary accommodation at primary level a new initiative was launched in 2003. The purpose of this initiative is to allow primary schools to undertake a permanent solution to their classroom accommodation needs and to achieve the best value for money.

My Department has also used other innovative solutions to deliver urgently required permanent accommodation for schools in rapidly developing areas. An example of this is the new 16 classroom primary school for Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School, Lucan, which was delivered through the use of a design and build contract within 13 months.