Almost 1,000 schools are waiting for renovations or replacement buildings, according to the latest official figures. A total of 341 schools are on existing building programmes which remain to be delivered. Department of Education officials acknowledged at an Oireachtas education committee meeting earlier this week that there has been an historic under-investment in the sector. However, a department spokeswoman said prefabs were a short-term solution to urgent accommodation needs, such as the appointment of extra teachers. “The Government has committed to replacing all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established, by 2021,” she said.

Source: The Irish Times April 18, 2018 17:48 UTC