asked the Minister for Education if, in his future school-buildings plans, he will see that all new schools will be provided with adequate accommodation for indoor recreation, and include a room in which meals under the Schools Meals Act may be provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Accommodation.
The standard plans for national school buildings include provision for covered playgrounds (shelters), entered directly from the school building, for recreational purposes. I am not prepared to make any further provision in this matter at present.
The provision of accommodation for the serving of meals under the Acts relating to meals for school children is not one for my Department. The provision of meals Acts empower local authorities to provide meals for national school children and also such building, furniture and apparatus as may be necessary for this purpose.
Is the Minister aware that in one of the finest, if not the finest, schools in Ireland, built recently in North Crumlin, there is no room for the provision of school meals for the children? The provision of a room for that purpose was overlooked and the children have to take the meal in the school yard. In view of the failure to provide such a room in this magnificent building, will the Minister see that it will be provided in all future schools?