Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.

Mary Wallace

Question:

325 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education if she will consider sanctioning a physical education hall for Dunshaughlin Community College, County Meath; if a decision in respect of approval of such a hall could be taken as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the Dunshaughlin Community Centre Committee currently has £300,000 to spend on a community centre but has an option of providing such a centre on its existing site on Main Street or on the site provided by the County Meath vocational education committee on the Dunshaughlin Community College site and in view of the fact that the advice of the ILAM was sought to provide this facility on the community college site following a recommendation by her Department and ILAM recommended that the facility provided at the community college would cost an additional £195,000; her views on whether a decision on this issue from her Department is urgent in view of the fact that the Community Centre Committee is in a position in 1997 to provide a £300,000 project on Main Street or to link with her Department to provide a £495,000 centre/physical education hall adjacent to the school; the information currently available in her Department regarding the urgency of a decision on this issue; the further information, if any, currently required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1100/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

It is the intention of my Department to provide physical education facilities on a phased basis to schools where these do not already exist. However, the timing of the provision of PE halls must have regard to available finance.

The question of providing a PE hall at Dunshaughl in Community College can only be considered in the context of capital available for post primary building purposes generally. Because of the huge demands on the capital resources available, priority has been given for some time to the provision of essential teaching spaces. Before additional PE halls can be included in the capital programme, the backlog of halls already planned in 1996 or under planning will have to be cleared.

Provision of PE facilities where these are not being planned at present will resume as soon as pressure on available resources for classroom accommodation has eased. Meanwhile, proposals submitted by County Meath vocational education committee in relation to the proposed joint venture between the vocational education committee and Dunshaughlin Community Centre Committee are being considered by my Department at present. When the matter has been examined in full, a decision will be conveyed to the vocational education committee in due course.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

326 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction the building of a new school at Fahy national school, Newport, County Mayo in view of the condition of the current school; and whether she will include this school in the 1997 capital programme. [1101/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The current position is that funding for the works requested at Fahy national school must be examined in the light of existing contractual commitments for 1997, and the funding to be made available this year. These matters are under consideration at present and I expect that the process will be completed shortly. My Department will be in contact with the school management as soon as these matters have been finalised.