Vol. 429 No. 6
340 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if second level school facilities such as gymnasia and such facilities are available to local communities during school holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
While the question of making school facilities available to the public is one for the school managerial authorities, I am aware that many second-level schools already make their premises available as suggested by the Deputy. My Department issued a Circular to schools in April 1992, urging them to make their premises available as far as practicable.
I am very much in favour of the use of school premises for community purposes outside the school hours and I would strongly urge that school buildings provided by way of State aid should be readily available for such use. I will be addressing this matter further in the forthcoming White Paper on Education.
