Farrell welcomes prefab replacement for three schools in Dublin Fingal

Three national schools in Fingal will receive funding to replace existing prefabs with permanent accommodation, according to Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell.

“Students in St. Oliver Plunkett’s school in Balrothery, St. Patrick’s Junior School and Holmpatrick National School in Skerries can look forward to being taught in permanent classrooms instead of prefabricated buildings as a result of government investment in education facilities in Dublin Fingal.

“This allocation is part of the 2013 prefab replacement scheme, which is being rolled out by the current Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn in order to dismantle the disastrous Fianna Fail policy of renting prefabs in order to address the long term needs of our education system.

“Regrettably, the consequence of this policy is that millions of euro of taxpayer’s money has been wasted renting and repairing sub-standard prefabricated buildings that were never suitable in the first instance.

“I recently met with the Principal of St. Oliver Plunkett’s National School who had been seeking to provide students with permanent accommodation, and I would like to congratulate all three Principals on their dedicated efforts to improve education facilities for their students and our future generations.

“In 2012, five schools in Dublin Fingal received funding to replace prefabs in their schools with permanent buildings, and the success of this scheme has meant that three more schools have been added to the list. Nationally, €35 million was spent in 2012 and a further €15 million will be spent this year as part of this programme.     To date, there has been a 37% reduction in the number of prefabs being used across the country.

“This is a clear delivery of policies outlined in the Programme for Government.   Replacing prefabs offers better accommodation for students and savings for schools and the Exchequer, as well as providing construction jobs.   More importantly, however, it will mean a significant improvement to the education and well-being of our future generation.”