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Half of all local classrooms are prefabs – report

Thursday, 31 July 2008

Over half of all school classrooms in one Southside Dublin constituency consist of prefabricated buildings, new figures reveal.
Space is now at such short supply across Dublin that over 10,000 students in the capital are being taught in temporary classrooms some of which are up to 40 years old.
A survey carried out by Deputy Brian Hayes (FG) shows that in Dublin South 58 per cent or 11 of the schools surveyed had temporary prefab accommodation.
The next highest percentage was Dublin South Central at 39 per cent; Dublin South West at 25 per cent and both Dublin South East and Dún Laoghaire at 20 per cent each.
The survey was carried out across Dublin's 12 constituencies, with 172 schools taking part. It shows that 38 per cent of schools are waiting for new buildings and 46 per cent have classrooms in temporary buildings.
"The results highlight the dire situation facing Irish children, parents and teachers with prefabs very much a staple of Irish education," Deputy Hayes said.
"Severe classroom overcrowding and unsuitable accommodation will continue to be a feature of Irish education, as this survey shows.”
He added: "This survey result shows that prefabs are a mainstay in half of all schools. Instead of pressure being alleviated on overcrowded classrooms, the situation is set to deteriorate even further with 39 per cent of schools expecting an increase in pupil numbers in 2008.”
Deputy Hayes described the use of prefabs by schools for up to four decades as a damning indictment of the "neglect of education" and showed the dire situation in which primary schools have been left.
"Lack of investment and broken commitments from successive governments are at the heart of the problem,” he said. “Two out of five 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.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education said it would be their preference to provide permanent accommodation for all schools.
“In light of the rapid growth in enrolments it has been necessary to approve temporary accommodation in some cases to enable schools in Dublin and around the country to meet the demand for pupil places, pending the provision of new permanent buildings for them,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Mr Hayes revealed last week that, despite previous assurances from the Government that education would not suffer cutbacks, the schools grant scheme for minor works will not go ahead as planned this year.
The grant is usually paid out between October and December but Brian Hayes received an answer to a parliamentary question that showed this would not be the case in 2008.
Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said: “It is intended that the Minor Works Grant for the 2008/2009 school year will be paid in 2009.”
The grant scheme to cover minor works to national schools is commonly known as the devolved grant and is spent on items of furniture or IT related equipment.

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