I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together.
The information in the format requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, in regard to PE facilities generally, the position is that many primary schools have a general purposes room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas, which are utilised for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. A similar situation applies to sports halls and outdoor facilities at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
The provision of multi-purpose space for primary schools will continue to be considered within the design brief for new schools and/or renovation and extension school building projects. This will also be the case for PE facilities at second level. This will be done in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects.
A particular difficulty has arisen this year in regard to some schools in need of additional accommodation to facilitate extra teacher appointments. In the context of the available funding for temporary accommodation, and the number of applications for that funding, it was not possible to approve all applications received. As an interim measure some schools have been advised to maximise the use of existing accommodation until my Department is in a position to make extra accommodation available.
The need for additional accommodation at these schools will be considered in the context of a review, which is being undertaken of all projects that did not proceed as part of the 2004 school building programme, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005. My Department has never underestimated the scale of the task and the level of capital funding and other resources required to rectify decades of under investment in school infrastructure. The Government is delivering on its commitment to provide modern facilities in schools and has progressively increased funding in recent years with an aggregate total of almost €2 billion since 1998, the largest investment programme in the history of the State.
In regard to the third level sector, most if not all institutions have facilities for sporting/PE activities. The recent report of the review group on capital projects in the higher education sector, Kelly report, recommends funding in the region of €35 million for development of multi-purpose/PE facilities at nine third level institutions. Many other priority projects identified in the Kelly report and they will all be considered in the context of the overall funding available to me once the multi-annual capital envelope for the education sector is determined in the budget tomorrow.
