asked the Minister for Education if he will consider providing a sports hall at Clifden Community School, Galway, and if not, why.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Physical Education Facilities.
2.
asked the Minister for Education if he will provide a sports hall at Moneenageisha Technical School, Galway, and if not, why.
4.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make funds available for the provision of playing pitches at Moneenageisha Technical School, Galway, and if not, why.
5.
asked the Minister for Education when the programme for building sports halls for community schools will be resumed; and the amount of money to be devoted to it in the current year.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, together.
The substantial increase in capital this year enables me to authorise the resumption of the programme for the provision of physical education facilities in second-level schools. Pending examination of cases where the question of the provision of such facilities arises, I am not in a position to make a statement in relation to any individual school.
The question of making a grant on the application of the vocational education committee towards the cost of providing a playing pitch at Moneenageisha will receive attention when the major extension at the school, at present under construction, is nearing completion.
Can the Minister say what actual sum in the increased allocation will specifically be devoted to sports halls and how many sports halls can that amount build?
I have completed an examination of the existing needs and they are great. I should like to remind the Deputy, and the House, that the provision of physical education halls was suspended in 1975 and, consequently, there is a backlog. When the study is completed and we have decided the criteria which will apply in the allocation of money to the individual schools I invite the Deputy to ask me the question.
Can the Minister say how many school halls, regardless of where they will be situated, he expects to be in a position to sanction in the current year?
I cannot tell the Deputy that until we have completed our study. I should like to remind the Deputy that the Government very generously allocated £51 million for capital expenditure to me for this year.
Has this study which the Minister has spoken about not been effectively going on since he came to office? When, in the name of all that is good and holy, can we expect it to be completed?
I should like to remind the Deputy that no such study has been going on since I came to office. When I looked at the desolate scene with regard to physical education facilities it saddened me very much and in my arguments to persuade the Government to allocate additional capital I used that strongly. We have the ridiculous position of having a first-class third-level institution providing physical education teachers for the country and no physical education halls for them in which to teach our children.
Can the Minister say when the study will be completed?
I expect to complete it very soon and to have buildings under way, as I indicated, in 1979, and the sooner the better.