Dept spent €282m on modular accommodation last year

The Department of Education spent €282 million on the purchase of modular accommodation last year, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Separately, over the past three years, the department spent €113m renting prefabs, the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) was told.

Secretary-General of the Department of Education Bernie McNally said that "temporary accommodation is sometimes needed" to meet the needs of students, hence the renting of prefabs.

However, she said that the use of modular buildings for "permanent accommodation" is "encouraged internationally".

The use of modular units is a "strong, robust, permanent solution" which has received "very positive feedback", the head of the department's Planning and Building Unit Hubert Loftus said.

Ms McNally insisted: "We always look at the most sustainable measure possible the most cost-effective measure possible."

She revealed that the cost of renting prefabs in 2021 was €29m, rising substantially to €41m in 2022 and up again to €43m last year, bringing the total rental cost for those years to €113m.