Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of pupils and schools currently being accommodated in prefabricated buildings in the country and in County Wicklow; the annual spend on rental and purchase of prefabricated buildings for each of the past ten years, broken down by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8643/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils in individual schools who currently occupy temporary accommodation; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Local school managements are responsible for organising their class numbers, year on year, to achieve the optimum local efficiencies.

Currently, there are 591 primary and post-primary schools renting 1,543 prefab units throughout the country of which 19 of these schools rent 56 prefabs in County Wicklow. (Please note that one prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation). Current expenditure on rental of prefabricated accommodation in primary and post-primary schools in Co. Wicklow is in the region of €600k per annum.

The information requested by the Deputy on the annual spend on rental and purchase of prefabricated buildings for each of the past ten years, broken down by school is not readily available. The Table sets out details of expenditure on purchased prefabs throughout the country including Co. Wicklow since 2008, with details of Co. Wicklow outlined in a separate table.

Separately, the amount spent on renting temporary accommodation at primary and post-primary level throughout the country, including - but not limited to - prefabricated accommodation in the last 4 years:- 2012: €29.3m (allocation) 2011: €28.9m 2010: €29.3m 2009: €39m