Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the average rental cost involved in renting a prefab unit has dropped in 2009 by comparison to 2008 in view of the expected saving of €14 million in 2009 by his Department; and if his Department has reduced the yearly rental agreement with the suppliers concerned. [35492/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will be in a position to provide the Deputy with comparative average rental costs for prefabs at the end of the current financial year. Calculations on average costs at this stage of the year will not accurately reflect comparative costs between 2008 and 2009 until then. As the Deputy is aware, my Department has engaged a specialist firm to develop new procedures and systems for the provision of temporary accommodation with a view to achieving best value for money. Work is well underway and the firm of specialists is working closely with officials in the Planning and Building Unit of my Department. The review incorporates the development of standard specifications for temporary accommodation, the development of new contractual terms to incorporate buy-out and relocation options to cater for individual local circumstances and appropriately protect the interests of the Department and school authorities. The work also involves negotiations with prefab suppliers to buy out existing rental contracts or reductions in annual rent, as appropriate. Progress has been made in all areas of the review.

I would again like to assure the Deputy that it is intended to further reduce the rental costs associated with temporary school accommodation and the arrangements to achieve these reductions are well underway. An initial group of 46 schools with rented prefabricated accommodation has been identified for priority negotiations with suppliers to buy out existing rental contracts. A considerable number of meetings have taken place between the firm of specialists engaged by my Department for this task and the prefabricated accommodation suppliers. It is expected that negotiations will be concluded shortly on a number of these.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1207 of 6 October 2009, the 40 selected locations mentioned in his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35493/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I will arrange to have a list of the initial areas identified for detailed analysis forwarded to the Deputy for his information.