Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of prefabricated buildings sanctioned by him but for which no bills for either rental or purchase have been received to date exist within the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25258/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the rental of temporary accommodation, my Department grant-aids rental costs to schools on a bi-annual basis - January to June and July to December. Payment is made on receipt of original provider invoices submitted by the school authorities to my Department.

I assume that the Deputy is referring to schools where prefabs have been sanctioned by my Department but where the school authorities have yet to submit invoices for the January - June 2009 rental period. Of the 918 schools renting prefabs in 2009, 899 schools have received payment and 19 have yet to submit invoices for payment for the January - June 2009 rental period. Officials in the Planning and Building Unit of my Department have recently made contact with the schools where rental grant-aid is outstanding, requesting invoices to be submitted for payment.

In July of 2008, I introduced a new scheme which allows those schools with an urgent and pressing need for additional accommodation which is likely to last for more than 3 years, and who are being given approval for grant aid, to avail of the option of using their grants either to purchase prefabs or to construct permanent classrooms for the same amount. My Department has approved the purchase of 120 prefabricated rooms for 87 schools this year with schools having the option of constructing permanent rooms instead. One school has drawn down funding under this scheme to date.