Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 5

Written Answers - School Facilities.

John McGuinness

Question:

138 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange an immediate inspection of the Loreto secondary school, Granges Road, Kilkenny, to determine the immediate steps the Department can take to provide proper gym facilities, in view of the fact that a common reception area and canteen is being used at present as a gym and that this area has been deemed unsafe by an engineer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4427/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

An application for a PE hall has been received from Loreto secondary school, Kilkenny.

It is the policy of my Department to provide PE halls as part of the schedule of accommodation for all new post-primary 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 constuction before the end of 1998.

In all cases, the appropriate range of physical education equipment is provided as part of the project.

The question of providing a PE hall at Loreto secondary school, Kilkenny, can only be considered in the context of the capital available for post-primary purposes generally. The situation is currently being reviewed and I can assure the Deputy that the school will be given every consideration when the review is completed.