More than 200 schools across the country are spending over €100,000 annually renting prefab accommodation, according to figures released by the Department of Education.
A total of 210 schools have prefab rental costs of over €100,000 each year, and a further 184 schools are paying over €50,000 to lease temporary classroom accommodation from private companies.
The figures, provided in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes, show that 18 schools in 10 counties spent over €100,000 renting a single prefab unit.
“That as much as €100,000 would go on renting just one prefab unit can only be considered a farce,” Mr Hayes said.
“Yet the Department of Education did just that in 18 schools.
“This waste of scarce taxpayers’ cash is not isolated to these 18…46 schools saw rental costs of over €50,000 for just one prefab.”
Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe had stated that €112 million had been spent on the rental of school prefabs between 2006 and 2008. It is expected that a further €48 million will be spent on rents this year.
