Vol. 572 No. 2
116 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science his Department's policy in relation to the provision of physical education halls in every second level school in the State; the actions being taken to ensure such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22656/03]
It is the policy of my Department to provide a physical education hall to a school that does not already have such a facility, commensurate with available resources and competing priorities. When planning new schools or major extensions to existing schools that do not have an existing physical education hall, provision is made in the schedule of overall accommodation for a physical education hall. A school with an enrolment in excess of 450 pupils qualifies for a physical education hall of circa 800 sq. m. inclusive of ancillary accommodation. Schools with an enrolment below 449 and greater than 200 pupils qualify for a physical education hall of circa 600 sq. m. inclusive of ancillary accommodation. The needs of schools with an enrolment below 200 pupils are assessed on a case by case basis.
Within the school building section of my Department standard physical education hall templates are being designed. These templates, which will initially be piloted at four locations, will expedite the delivery of physical education halls at schools where existing accommodation at a school is satisfactory.
