Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Schools Sports Facilities.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

664 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigate the extent of the losses to the Exchequer as a result of the duplication of sports facilities between schools serving the same or similar catchment areas. [8580/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Sports or 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. I stress that not all these facilities are funded by the State. For example, no grant-aid is given to secondary schools in respect of the purchase or development of playing fields. Also, in many instances additional sports facilities are provided for schools through local fund raising.

Physical education halls are intended as teaching spaces, mainly to impart the appropriate level of physical education skills to students: they are not intended as areas for competitive sport. The dimensions of PE halls are generally such that they are not capable of accommodating the full student complement at the same time for physical education activities. Accordingly, classes are timetabled for the use of the facility during the school week.

Because of the importance I attach to physical education in general, I do not accept that the provision of PE halls at adjacent schools of the appropriate size amounts to duplication any more than the similar provision of science laboratories or other specialist accommodation. Consequently, I cannot agree with the Deputy's assertion that such provision results in a loss to the Exchequer.