Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the State currently in prefab buildings; the cost to the State on an annual basis of those schools continuing to remain in prefab buildings. [48439/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Currently, there are 545 primary and post-primary schools renting 1,421 prefab units throughout the country. (Please note that one prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation). 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 is : 2012 - €29.3m (allocation), 2011 - €28.9m, 2010 - €29.3m, 2009 - €39m.

In March of this year I announced a new initiative to replace rented prefabs in both primary and post-primary schools. Over 170 schools have been approved to replace rented prefabs with permanent accommodation. A total of €41.8 million has been allocated for this initiative which will result in approximately 6,000 pupils moving from prefabs into permanent classrooms and resource rooms when building works are completed in all schools. It is expected that this initiative will achieve savings of up to €5m per annum on the rental of prefabs in the coming years.