More than 10,000 primary school students in Dublin attend classes which are held in prefabs, according to a new survey conducted by Fine Gael.
The study of 172 schools across all 12 Dublin constituencies reveals that 46 per cent of all schools surveyed have temporary accommodation in which classes are sometimes held.
As many as 38 per cent of schools said they were waiting for new buildings to be constructed and a number of schools claimed that they had been using temporary accommodation for as long as 40 years.
Almost 70 per cent of schools that hold classes in prefabs said they were dissatisfied with the condition of their temporary accommodation.
Moreover, a number of educational establishments expressed concerns that conditions could deteriorate further due to an expected increase in pupil numbers this year.
According to the survey, 39 per cent of schools predict a rise in the number of students attending their establishment this year.
Fine Gael said that severe classroom overcrowding and unsuitable accommodation will continue to be a feature of Irish education unless moves are taken to rectify the situation.
"Lack of investment and broken commitments from successive Fianna Fáil Governments are at the heart of the problem. Two out of five of schools are waiting for new buildings. Despite promises from the Government that these buildings are forthcoming, schools are forced to use prefabs, sometimes for 40 years," said education spokesman Brian Hayes.
"That schools have had to use prefabs for four decades is a damning indictment of the neglect of education and, more than anything shows the dire situation in which primary schools have been left."
