Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent on renting prefabs (details supplied) in respect of schools in County Kerry. [9702/09]

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 giving details regarding their use of prefabricated accommodation. 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.

Details of the schools in County Kerry renting prefabricated units are given in the following tabular statement. The information sought by the Deputy regarding the cost of these rentals prior to 2008 is not readily available. However, I can say that the total amount spent on rentals in Co. Kerry for 2008 was €459,347.