Government spending over €250,000 renting prefabs in Athlone

The Department of Education has spent at least a quarter of a million euro in prefab rental costs for four national schools in the Athlone area. Over €100,000 has been spent by the department on renting two prefabs for St Clare"s NS in Tubberclare, while between €50,000 and €100,000 has been spent respectively on renting prefabs for three other schools, Cornafulla NS, Coosan NS and Cornamaddy NS. The three schools have five prefabs between them. The rental expenditure figures were confirmed by the Minister for Education Batt O"Keeffe in the Dáil last week. No cap on the over €100,000 figure was indicated and if the rental costs for the three other schools neared the €100,000 mark, then upwards on half a million euro has been spent so far on renting temporary classrooms for the four primary schools. One prefab unit may hold more than one classroom or other facilities such as toilets. 'Generally, where schools require temporary accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring such temporary accommodation and the rental contract is between the Board of Management and the supplying contractor. In between 1% and 2% of cases my Department may rent directly from providers, this generally arises in relation to developing areas where a new school is being established,' said Minister O"Keeffe speaking in the Dáil. Fine Gael"s education spokesman Brian Hayes called on the Minister to renegotiate rental costs with suppliers for temporary school accommodation. The department has now begun a review of the rental policy and may look at buying out some prefabs or relocating options. 'A review of rental policy is ongoing which will, inter alia, cover an examination of the contract terms to incorporate buy-out, buy-back, rental costs and relocation options if local circumstances require it. The review will involve an investigation of all existing rental contracts between schools and suppliers with a view to identifying action to reduce overall rental costs for the Department,' added Minister O"Keeffe. The department has projected that €48 million will be spent this year alone renting prefabs throughout the primary and post primary school system nationwide.