Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
569. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) is the only community school in the country for which provision for all-weather playing facilities was never made; how her Department could go about assisting the school in this matter now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27902/23]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that 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.
Investment and expenditure on sports facilities is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of outdoor play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. In addition, my Department provides funding toward the provision of furniture and equipment including PE equipment in both primary and post-primary schools. In relation to post-primary schools, where my Department provides a sports hall as part of a building project, the equipment provided forms part of the overall furniture and equipment grant to that school.
In addition, 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. At post primary level, an area may be developed as a practice playing field where site conditions and resources permit. The Design Guidelines do not, however, include all-weather sports pitches.
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 period will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. While being mindful of the future demographic needs in respect of essential mainstream and special education provision particularly on restricted school sites, this will include a 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.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
