merrion street

Education Minister, Ruairí Quinn, today announced the biggest initiative ever undertaken to replace rented prefabs in schools.

Almost 200 schools will be offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year – over a third of all schools who currently rent prefabs.

A total of €35 million has been allocated for this initiative in 2012.

Commenting on the new initiative Minister Quinn said:

“It’s hard to believe that at the height of the economic boom the previous Government had a policy of renting prefabs in schools. 715 new rental contracts were agreed for primary schools in 2007 alone.

The result of this policy is that we have a legacy of rented prefabs in schools around the country.“

The new initiative announced today will result in savings of approx €5m per annum on the rental of prefabs in these schools in the coming years and will result in the creation of an estimated 700 direct and 140 indirect jobs.

This Plan will provide modern, high quality accommodation for pupils and teachers and construction related jobs for workers around the country.

Inclusive of this initiative an estimated 3,250 direct and 650 indirect jobs will be created this year through the Government’s investment in the School Building Programme.