Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the application for temporary accommodation in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when a decision is expected to be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27027/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval for the provision of extra accommodation was given to the school in question last May. It is now the practice to purchase rather than rent temporary accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. This will reduce the incidence of long term rental of prefabs.

In July of 2008, I introduced a further innovation 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, as in the case of this school, to avail of the option of using their grants either to purchase prefabs or to construct permanent classrooms for the same amount. Funding is approved on a devolved basis for both options and it is then a matter for the schools to decide which option to pursue.