Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 652: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the breakdown on a county basis of the annual contribution towards rental costs for prefabricated buildings in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26950/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides grant-aid towards the provision of temporary school accommodation to the management authorities of education providers where it is established that a need for such temporary accommodation exists.

Generally, where primary schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between the Board of Management and the supplying contractor. My Department provides grant-aid to the individual school authorities towards the costs of procuring the accommodation. Such grant-aid is paid at a rate of 95% for schools with permanent recognition and 75% for schools with provisional recognition. Schools are expected to pay a local contribution of the balance, with an annual threshold on the local contribution of €3,175.

Expenditure on the rental of temporary accommodation at primary level for 2007 was €34.5 million. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and given the number of payments involved it would require a very large amount of staff time to assemble.