Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 June 2014
77. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level voluntary schools in the State that do not have a sports hall; if he will institute a grant scheme for these schools that would ensure all these schools would have a reasonable opportunity to build same, particularly with the challenges obesity creates in our society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27526/14]
View answer78. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level voluntary schools that progressed in the design of sports halls with the approval of his Department, that were never funded for construction; the names and roll numbers of these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27527/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.
The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools within the constraints of the available funding.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many second level schools have sports halls and practically all schools have outdoor facilities which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
The provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website (www.education.ie) to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage them to take a complete design team approach from project conception. These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works. My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. Other P.E. facilities, e.g. pitches are provided, where appropriate, and in the context of available resources, as part of the Department's school building programme.
In the context of my Department's co-operation with local authorities in identifying suitable sites for schools, the location of sporting facilities is one factor taken into account in locating schools. The Deputy may be aware of my Department's role in developing shared community facilities in the Fingal County Council area, which has made facilities available to the wider community on a shared basis with the school.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. This will continue to be the main focus for investment by my Department in the coming years. While my Department will continue to provide additional and improved classroom accommodation in our schools, it is not currently in a position within available funding to consider applications from schools for the addition of a sports hall.
School building projects which were previously initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future. The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie which is updated regularly throughout the year.
