Dinny McGinley
Question:308 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of comprehensive schools currently being provided with sports halls; and the location of each such school. [17154/97]
Written Answers. - Sports Halls.
There are no building projects involving the provision of PE halls currently under way at any of the 16 comprehensive schools in the State. The Department does not have detailed information about the level of facilities available at comprehensive schools.
Dinny McGinley
Question:309 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is his policy to provide sports halls for all community schools without such facilities. [17155/97]
Physical education facilities encompass indoor PE halls, outdoor hard play areas such as basketball and tennis courts and playing fields. Virtually all schools have at least one element of these facilities.
It is the policy of my Department to provide PE halls as part of the schedule of accommodation for all new post-primary schools, including community schools. PE halls are also provided when a major extension to a school which does not have such a facility is being built. In addition, my Department has a programme for providing PE halls as stand-alone projects and it is anticipated that a number of these will proceed to construction before the end of 1997.