Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the memorandum of understanding between his Department and local authorities with regard to site acquisitions for new school builds includes provisions relating to the necessity for the identification of sites for temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51814/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on the acquisition of sites for school planning purposes, referred to by the Deputy is available on my Department's website. Under this MoU, the assistance of the local authorities is sought in the identification and procurement of school sites which are to transfer into my ownership. The MoU was devised with the intention of leveraging the experience and expertise of the local authority where school sites are to be acquired. 

In general, where temporary accommodation is being arranged for schools, it can involve a number of forms, including utilisation of existing school property, the refurbishment or temporary use of existing buildings, or the installation of prefabs on a temporary or permanent site.

While the MoU does not specifically reference temporary accommodation,  in general my Department works closely with local authorities and patron bodies in relation to the provision of interim accommodation for new schools and has, on occasion, sought the assistance of the local authority in relation to such accommodation based on the local knowledge of available options.