Noel Dempsey
Question:100 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will consider favourably a proposal from Dunshaughlin community college, County Meath, for the provision of a sports hall. [4069/96]
Written Answers. - Dunshaughlin (Meath) Community College.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:102 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in 1985 permission was granted to erect a sports hall at the Dunshaughlin Community College, County Meath, but to date nothing further has developed; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that Dunshaughlin Community College has an enrolment of 600 and is a major growth area and this sports hall is required more than ever; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3933/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together.
Because of limited capital resources, it is not possible to provide PE halls in all schools which have applied for these facilities over the years. The decision to include certain schools in the 1995 capital programme was taken as a result of detailed studies into all the applicants' particular cases, taking account also of the educational requirements.
The question of providing a PE hall at Dunshaughlin community college can only be considered in the context of the capital available for post primary building purposes generally. Because of the huge demand for additional classroom accommodation in schools throughout the country, I am not in a position at this stage to say when a PE hall will be provided in this particular case.
However, the sports section of my Department has recently allocated a grant of £150,000 under the major sports capital programme to Dunshaughlin Community Centre Association towards the provision of a sports centre for Dunshaughlin.