Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 448: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the schools and the number of classroom units within each school nationwide that are availing of accommodation under the temporary accommodation scheme; the average rental cost of each unit per annum in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8557/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Following a survey of over 900 schools across the country, my Department has set up a database with details of their use of prefabricated accommodation. Information regarding rented prefabricated units supplied by schools as part of this exercise has been forwarded to the Deputy. Work is ongoing in my Department to update these records.

The Deputy will be aware that 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. The overall policy goal is to ensure the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. However, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population, the necessity to put additional accommodation in place in a short time frame, and competing pressure on the capital budget available to my Department, it is necessary to make use of temporary accommodation in order to meet accommodation needs in some circumstances.

The average annual rental cost of a temporary-prefabricated classroom works out at €15,428. As the Deputy will appreciate, the cost per unit will vary significantly depending on the size, type and age of each unit.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of prefabs and other temporary accommodation units that have been purchased by his Department in the years since 2000 to date in 2009; the average cost of these units; the number of these units in use; the schools availing of these units in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8558/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department at present. I will write to the Deputy regarding this matter in due course.