Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of temporary or pre-fabricated school buildings already replaced by his Department in each of the past three years to date; the number currently in course thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50792/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under my Department's 2012 Prefab Replacement Initiative, approval was given to 170 schools nationally to replace 458 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million was allocated for this initiative of which €35 million has been paid to date. Of these a total of 157 projects have gone to construction and 108 of these have been completed. The total rental savings achieved by the 108 completed projects are in the region of €2.1 million. These figures will be subject to change as further projects are completed. The initiative will result in savings of approximately €5 million per annum on the rental of prefabs in these schools in the coming years.

In June of this year, I announced a further Prefab Replacement Initiative to replace in the region of 115 prefabs in 46 schools with permanent accommodation. A total of €15m has been allocated in 2013/14 and this further initiative should result in additional rental savings of €2.5 million per annum. Replacing prefabs is part of the Government's €475 million education infrastructure plan for 2014. The Plan will provide modern, high quality accommodation for pupils and teachers and construction related jobs for workers around the country.