The Public Accounts Committee has heard that €1.3 billion has been spent on modular buildings for schools over the past five years.
Labour TD Eoghan Kenny, a former teacher, told the committee that prefabs were not conducive to teaching or learning, reports RTE.
He accepted that prefabs might sometimes be necessary, but said the State was now going down the route of providing long-term school accommodation in modular buildings.
He said it was not a long-term solution for schools and described it as “ineffective and inappropriate” to house children in prefabs, particularly those with special educational needs, reports RTE.
“What is the value for money there?” he asked, also querying the procurement process.
Mr Kenny said he did not believe any school principal would choose prefabs over bricks and mortar, and expressed concern that the Department of Education was moving towards the use of prefabs rather than providing long-term solutions, reports RTE.
He described them as “a blight on communities across this country, they’re a blight on school communities and it’s an ineffective way for students to be learning in and it’s unfair on students and parents and particularly teachers … almost to be put into sheds to teach in, I don’t agree with it.”
He also raised concerns about the value-for-money aspect of prefabs, reports RTE.
Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly described it as “an irresponsible approach” and cited St Patrick’s school in Kildare, where the lifespan of such prefabs had failed teachers and communities.
He said older prefabs were being replaced with newer prefabs rather than proper permanent buildings, reports RTE.
Mr Farrelly said the PAC could not stand over this approach.
The Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy said he would expect the Department to demonstrate that modular buildings provide value for money, reports RTE.
The Department of Education responded to criticisms of prefabricated buildings used in schools, saying they are one of the types of “permanent accommodation” in use.
A spokesperson said: “Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) reflect the Government’s broader commitment to developing modern, sustainable infrastructure. MMC enhances the productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of school accommodation delivery,” reports RTE.
The spokesperson added: “Offsite construction minimises disruption in live school environments, while factory precision and strict quality control deliver robust, low-maintenance buildings. Today’s modular buildings represent a major advancement from earlier prefabricated forms.”
They added that the department had received “very positive feedback from schools about modular accommodation,” and that they provided a “more efficient way of building, compared to traditional brick-and-mortar construction,” reports RTE.
“Modular accommodation is not a short-term solution, it is a strategic part of how Ireland delivers school buildings.”
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