Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 2004

Vol. 178 No. 19

Physical Education Facilities.

Mr. Kitt

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, for coming to the House. My question relates to the provision of a proper gymnasium at St. Raphael's College, Loughrea, County Galway. It was 28 years ago, in 1976, that the school first requested this facility. The physical education facilities in the school are poor, with no light, heating, washing facilities, or toilets. This is a college that is well known for its achievements in games such as volleyball, camogie and hurling. The girls' volleyball team took part in the world championships in 1988 and twice competed at the Catholic student games. The most popular girls' games are volleyball and hurling, while the favourite games for boys are hurling and volleyball. The boys' volleyball team has won the all-Ireland B championship in the past.

Proper facilities should be provided for physical education, an important subject which is often forgotten and in which great success has been achieved by the pupils of this school.

Mr. S. Power

I thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy of the Department of Education and Science for capital investment in education projects. I also wish to outline the position regarding an application for an extension and PE hall received from St. Raphael's College, Loughrea, County Galway.

The management authority of that school applied for an extension in February 2000 and for the refurbishment of the existing PE hall in February 2003. The school is accommodated in two blocks, comprising the junior block which accommodates class groups up to junior certificate level and the main building accommodating all other levels. The application for an extension is under consideration in the school planning section of the Department. All relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends in the area, must be taken into account. Following an assessment of these factors, it is considered that the long-term projected enrolment for this school is 325 pupils. This is the figure on which the Department will base the school's future requirements.

The next step is to determine how to meet the school's accommodation needs. Departmental officials are in discussions with the trustees on how best to meet these needs. Once this is decided, the project will be prioritised in accordance with the recently revised prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects. The next step in progressing a large-scale project is the drawing up of schedules of accommodation, which must be agreed by the school authorities before architectural planning of the project can commence.

Further progress on St. Raphael's College and all such projects will be considered in the context of the schools building programme from 2005 onwards. The management authority of the school has recently made applications for various works under the summer works scheme and for temporary accommodation under the 2005 schools building programme. These applications will be assessed in the context of the school's overall accommodation requirements. It is planned to publish the list of successful applicants early in the new year.