Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
966. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the requirements that exist for schools to have space for physical education; the guidelines on the space itself, availability and accessibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21292/22]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school. For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with Special Education Needs classes is provided with 3 ball courts (1,755m² in total), 2 junior play areas (600m² in total), as well as secure hard and soft play area (300m²) and a 100m² Sensory Garden. In respect of new post-primary schools, a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school will be provided with 6 ball courts (3,060m² in total) and a 200m² secure hard and soft special education play area. The majority of schools have a general purpose room / Physical Education hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
My Department provides general purpose and PE halls with the construction of all new primary and post primary schools respectively. The provision of outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. These facilities may also be provided where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
However, the latter stages of the National Development Plan will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision. The ancillary accommodation needs of primary schools, such as General Purpose rooms will also be considered.
The current status of approved projects under the school building programme is listed on a county by county basis on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and is regularly updated to reflect progress through the various project stages. This includes both large-scale projects and projects in receipt of devolved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme.
