asked the Minister for Education if a survey has been undertaken to ascertain the current physical condition of many of the prefab school buildings throughout the country; and if the location and condition of these pre-fabs will be given.

A survey has not been undertaken by my Department, nor is any such survey contemplated, to ascertain the current physical condition of pre-fabricated school buildings throughout the country. I am not satisfied that any general survey as envisaged in the question from the Deputy is necessary or that the official time and financial resources involved in undertaking it would yield commensurate results.

The suitability of prefabricated classrooms is one in the first instance for the school authorities at primary and post-primary level.

My Department will respond immediately to any requests for the replacement of unsuitable classrooms.

I might add that the replacement of temporary accommodation is being undertaken as part of an ongoing process of the upgrading of school accommodation.

Is the Minister serious about the funding being allocated to replace prefabricated buildings? If he is, there must have been a survey to see how many need to be replaced? How can the money be allocated if there is no list of prefabs which need to be replaced?

I said there was no list as such. If accommodation is inadequate or unsuitable the school board of management make an application to the Department in the normal way. We have that examined by the Board of Works and in that way we have a record of the number of applications before us.

Surely that is following rather than leading.

That is pure argument.

Is it not the responsibility of the Department if, as the Minister repeatedly says, they are genuinely worried about the condition of prefabs, to undertake a survey of unsuitable pre-fab buildings and see how far £2 million will go? It is ridiculous to say £2 million will be allocated if it is not known——

That is argument and I will not allow it.

Anywhere that there is unsuitable accommodation——

This is argument.

I am not arguing. I am replying to a supplementary question. Anywhere that there is unsuitable accommodation or overcrowding an application is made immediately to the Department of Education. We process the application in the normal way. We do not undertake a survey of all prefab buildings. We only have a record of the number of applications before us at any given time. I am not in a position to say if the kind of survey mentioned by the Deputy will be undertaken in the future. I do not see the advantage of having such a survey at this stage. There are a number of prefabs which we would not be aware of. Some may be used temporarily and we would not have a record of them. I am sure the Deputy will understand the reason why we do not have such a survey.

A final supplementary. I will not allow argument.

The Chair is being very harsh today.