Vol. 443 No. 4
15 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education if general purpose rooms will be included in all school buildings built or proposed for schools of four teachers or more; and the way in which she intends to ensure that physical education, which she has recently stated is an integral part of children's education, should be provided in schools with fewer than four teachers.
57 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if general purpose rooms will be included in all school buildings built or proposed for building in schools of four teachers or more; and the way in which she intends to ensure that physical education, which she has recently stated is an integral part of children's education, should be provided in schools with fewer than four teachers.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 57 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that it is my intention to provide for general purpose rooms in all new primary school building projects in respect of schools of four classrooms or more. This will include those projects in the 1994 capital programme.
Where general purpose facilities currently exist, additional classroom provision will be made for an expanding school of four or more class teachers so that the use of the general purpose room as a classroom will not be necessary.
Also, where a school currently has four class teachers but projected enrolments indicate that it will have three teachers in the long term, the project will provide for a general purpose size classroom in addition to three permanent classrooms.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is carrying out a review of the primary curriculum, and will advise me on any revisions to the programme which might be necessary to ensure that all pupils receive an adequate level of physical education.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): The Minister is aware that the Department provided no general purpose room in the 12 classroom school in Graiguecullen, County Carlow and the parish was forced to build one at its own expense. I am glad that mad policy has been changed. Is there any hope of retrospective payment?
No, there is not. There is a cut off point. I thank the Deputy for welcoming this proposal. We have been able to take this step because of the enhancement of the primary school capital programme. Not only will we be able to plan for general purpose rooms but also to expand the minor and emergency grant scheme and this year 206 schools will have proper sanitary facilities.
We are surveying the existing accommodation and this will allow us to plan on a more orderly basis than previously. Moneys will also be required for additional prefabricated accommodation and site acquisitions. The Department is responding to needs and I look forward to receiving applications from schools in the Deputy's area.
