asked the Minister for Education how much land for playing-grounds and playing-fields is allowed by his Department when planning new national schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Playground Facilities.
98.
The area required for a site for a national school is related to the number of children for which the school is intended to cater. Certain guidelines are issued to school managers as to the desirable dimensions of sites for schools of different sizes. For example, a school to cater for 80-120 pupils, that is to say, a three-classroom school, the minimum area of site is 1.4 acres; for a six-classroom school, which would have 220-270 pupils, the stipulated area of site is over two acres.
In the case of larger schools, the recommended size of site is: for single-storey buildings: 2½ acres for the first 500 pupils plus one acre for each 250 pupils in excess of 500; for two-storey buildings: two acres for the first 500 pupils plus one acre for each 300 pupils in excess of 500; together with a playing field of about two-2½ acres for a boys' school and ½-1 acre for a girls' school.
It is not always possible, particularly in urban areas, to obtain sites as large as desirable and, in special circumstances, sites of smaller dimensions than those which I have indicated may be accepted. The need for adequate recreation facilities is always borne in mind, however, when a site is proposed.
Can the Minister specify whether the site area covers the whole school or purely the playing facilities?
The whole school.