asked the Minister for Education if he is prepared to authorise the allocation of departmental grants towards the acquisition of playgrounds for existing national schools, where suitable adjacent plots are available for purchase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Playgrounds.
It is not open to my Department to allow grants towards the cost of purchasing additional plots for use as playgrounds in connection with national schools. The acquisition of school sites and of additional plots for inclusion in sites is a matter for the managers concerned and the cost falls to be met from local sources. Grants may, however, be made by my Department towards the cost of enclosing additional plots acquired for recreation purposes, provided that the plots are regarded as suitable and that they are vested by official leases to which the Minister for Education is a party.