Prefab rental bill could reach €120,000 for two schools

TWO national schools could be paying in the region of €120,000 for eight prefabricated classrooms, it emerged this week.
Last summer, Clare Labour Deputy Michael McNamara announced the Department of Education had approved funding to construct three new classrooms at Meelick National School, which now has eight teachers and about 183 pupils.
Education Minister Ruairí Quinn requested a detailed report on the state of conditions at the school following serious health and safety concerns raised by Deputy McNamara and Deputy Pat Breen.
Earlier this year, funding was allocated to Parteen National School, where Councillor Cathal Crowe currently teaches, to cover the costs of building two new classrooms. 
This good news came as part of a €34 million nationwide initiative to replace rented prefab classrooms with permanent structures. Parteen National School currently has five prefabs.
While these classrooms are suitable for purpose, Councillor Crowe insists they are no substitute for solid-walled, permanent buildings.
Councillor Crowe estimates the average rental cost of a standard 80m2 prefab classroom is approximately €15,000 per annum.
In total, 715 new rental contracts were agreed for primary schools in 2007. “It doesn’t take long for the cumulative rental costs to reach levels that equate to the costs of building a permanent structure,” he said.
Minister Quinn also sanctioned the provision of €45,000 for the replacement of foul and surface waterlines and roof repairs at Meelick National School, following serious health and safety issues
highlighted by Deputies Breen and McNamara.
Councillor Crowe believes the most recent department approvals will improve facilities in Meelick and Parteen National Schools.
“I am a former pupil of Meelick National School and upon graduation from Mary Immaculate College in 2006, I returned to teach there for a year.
“In September 1988, when I was a senior infants’ pupil at the school, the school was granted their first prefab classroom. Eighteen years later as I returned to the school as a member of its teaching staff, the prefab was still there and in daily use.
“Last March, I contacted the Department of Education on behalf of the school and explained the school’s circumstances to personnel in the Building Unit and Minister Ruairi Quinn’s office.
“Clare deputies and senators also made numerous representations to the minister. The news of the new classrooms has been welcomed in the local community,” he said.