Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost at which the temporary accommodation has been provided to a school (details supplied) in County Galway for 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18596/09]

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 schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring such temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between the Board of Management and the supplying contractor.

Following analysis of costs in my Department, it is now practice to purchase rather than rent temporary accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. This should reduce the incidence of long term rental of prefabs.

In 2008, an amount of €131,754 grant-aid was paid for rental of temporary accommodation at the school referred to by the Deputy. This amount included the rental costs for an additional prefab which was installed for September 2008. Since January 2009 my Department has paid €69,234 in rental costs for the school.

A review of rental policy is ongoing which will, inter alia, cover an examination of the contract terms to incorporate buy out, buy back, rental costs and relocation options if local circumstances require it. The review will involve an investigation of all existing rental contracts between schools and suppliers with a view to identifying action to reduce overall rental costs for the Department.