Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount the State spends per annum on temporary school accommodation at primary and secondary level; the measures being taken to reduce this figure; if there are plans to significantly reduce this figure in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20562/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation at primary and post-primary level, including – but not limited to - prefabricated accommodation since 2008 is as follows: 2008 €53 million 2009: €39million 2010: €29million 2011 €29million (allocation)

My Department is currently developing new procedures and systems for the provision of temporary accommodation with a view to achieving best value for money. These include 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 my Department and school authorities.

A change in policy implemented by my Department is to provide devolved grant aid for the purchase (rather than rental) of additional accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. Furthermore, since July 2008, it is also policy to offer schools being approved for devolved grant aid for additional accommodation the option to use their capital grant aid to build a permanent classroom(s) rather than purchase a prefab. These policies will reduce the usage of prefabricated accommodation and, particularly, the incidence of long term rental of prefabs.