Government ‘wastes’ €30m renting classrooms

THE Department of Education’s bill for renting prefabricated classrooms is set to top €30 million this year — almost eight times what it paid in 2000.

Fine Gael has called on the Government to stop wasting money on renting temporary accommodation and provide badly needed new schools buildings.

The spending of almost €80m between 2000 and 2006 for prefabs was highlighted in the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell in September. But figures provided by Education Minister in the Dáil this week reveal that her department has spent €28.5m on prefabs up to the end of October, suggesting the year’s cost will reach €30.9m.