Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 5

Written Answers. - Physical Education Facilities.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

76 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education (a) whether there is a priority listing of second-level schools which are in need of physical education facilities (b) the number of such schools where such facilities are to be built in 1992-93 (c) whether St. MacDara's College and Willington and Firhouse Community College, both of which have over 900 students enrolled, are on a priority list for PE halls and (d) when he envisages that building of halls for each of these schools will go to tender.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan):

No priority list has been established of second-level schools requiring physical education facilities.

Due to demands on the capital resources available, priority has been given for some time to the provision of essential teaching places. As a result, it is not possible to make funding available at this stage for the provision of physical education facilities at the two schools in question.

As indicated in the Green Paper,Education for a Changing World, the policy of providing indoor sports accommodation in schools, in the form of a general purpose area at primary level and a hall at secondary level, will resume as soon as pressure on available resources for urgent classroom accommodation has eased. In the meantime, additional emphasis is being placed on the adjacent siting and common use of school and community recreational facilities and schools should make maximum use of other sports facilities in their areas.