Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn that 10 primary schools in Mayo, currently renting prefabs, will be offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year.
Deputy Mulherin said the initiative forms part of the Government’s €430 million education infrastructure plan for 2012 and is part of the biggest initiative ever undertaken to replace rented prefabs in schools throughout the country.
The Mayo schools to be offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year are: Ballyvary Central NS; Behymore NS, Ballina; Breaffy NS, Ballina; Caoneal NS, Ballina; Lankill NS, Liscarney; Muire Gan Smal, Claremorris; Richmond NS, Crossmolina Scoil Naomh Bríd, Culleens, Ballina; SN Chomain Naofa, Roundfort; SN Padraig, Corrabheagain, Knockmore, Ballina.
“The funding will be used to replace prefabs that are used to provide resource rooms and classroom accommodation for pupils. A total of €35 million has been allocated for this initiative in 2012,” Deputy Mulherin said.
“Some Mayo schools are spending up to €100,000 a year on prefabs when this money could be used to service a loan to construct a much needed permanent building. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce the reliance on rented prefabs in schools.”
Deputy Mulherin added that the scheme is not part of the five-year building programme, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
