John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent on renting and purchasing temporary accommodation by schools (details supplied) in County Waterford, in each of the past five years; the amount budgeted for this purpose in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28309/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The schools to which the Deputy refers are not renting prefab accommodation. With regard to expenditure in the past 5 years the details are as follows; Nil was spent on temporary accommodation in 2007, €1,306.80 in 2006, €162,703.31 in 2005, €104,820.42 in 2004 and €128,731.97 in 2003.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent nationally on renting and purchasing temporary accommodation by secondary and primary schools in each of the past five years; the amount budgeted for this purpose in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28310/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information on expenditure of renting and purchasing temporary accommodation by secondary and primary schools in each of the past five years is provided in the following tabular statement. The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years, with the appointment of 6,000 extra teachers in the primary sector alone since 2002. In considering the need to provide extra resources and teachers to schools in recent years, the Government could have decided to make children wait until permanent accommodation could be provided. However we prioritised putting the extra teachers into schools as soon as possible. Provision has been made in the estimates for 2008 for rental of temporary accommodation of just over €60 million and €10m for prefab purchase. However, as the scheme is demand-led, and with the continued increase in teacher numbers in our schools, applications for temporary accommodation are expected from schools during the course of 2008. With over 2000 extra primary teachers appointed than the number in schools since last summer the demand for the purchase of temporary accommodation will be significant this year and expenditure under this subhead will continue to be monitored and kept under review.