Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost to her Department of buying and leasing prefabs in the 2005 to 2006 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40136/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of money spent on buying and leasing prefabs in the 2005 to 2006 school year is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. Records are maintained on a financial year basis as distinct from a school year as sought by the Deputy. Details in relation to the cost of providing temporary accommodation (including the provision of prefabs) for 2005 to end of October 2006 is outlined in the following table.

As the Deputy will see from the following table the spend on temporary accommodation represents a very small fraction of the overall yearly spend on school buildings. 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 provision of rented accommodation provides an immediate solution to a deficit of school accommodation, and is often the only available option where extra accommodation is needed at short notice.