Seán Crowe
Question:348 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the length of time Firhouse Community College has been waiting for a sports hall. [7277/03]
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Seán Crowe
Question:349 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the stage of construction of Firhouse Community College's sports hall. [7278/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
The proposed multi-purpose sports hall at Firhouse Community College is part of a joint programme to develop community sports facilities in drugs task force areas as announced by the Taoiseach with the Ministers for Education and Science, Environment and Local Government and Social, Community and Family Affairs in February 1999. Plans for a 1,607 square metres, multi-purpose sports hall attached to Firhouse Community College are at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position during this year to allow architectural planning for further large scale projects to progress beyond their current authorised stage. The project at Firhouse Community College will, however, be considered for the 2004 capital programme.
Seán Crowe
Question:350 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of sports halls which will be built in primary and secondary schools in 2003/2004. [7279/03]
At second level, it is the practice of my Department to provide a PE hall as part of the delivery of an extension project to a school where no such facility exists. A PE hall is also provided when a new school is being built. The school building programme for 2003 makes provision for the delivery of a total of 28 PE halls in second level schools.
In the case of primary schools, the planning guidelines in operation for new building projects make provision for general purpose areas ranging from 91 square metres to 200 square metres, depending on the size of the school. Details of primary projects which were included in the 2003 building programme are available on my Department's website atwww.education.ie. Details in relation to 2004 will not be available until the capital programme for 2004 is framed.