Niamh Smyth
Question:20. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to outline the position for schools who have lost a portion of their play areas due to extension needs of their growing school. [45094/23]
View answerTuesday, 17 October 2023
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Written answers
This Government is intent on working to promote life-long participation in physical activity and sport for all sectors of society. The provision of Physical Education in schools is a key element of this, alongside physical activity in the school setting. Research demonstrates that increased physical activity among children can lead to improved cognitive function, better motor skills and positive habits and attitudes.
My Department has a general policy to conserve the external recreational and sports facilities on school grounds as best as possible. Where this is not achievable to facilitate the location of an extension or modular building, it is the intention these areas are replaced where suitable alternative locations are available on the school site.
My Department provides professional and technical advice to school design teams in order to optimise the placement of school extensions within the footprint of the school grounds to meet both the Department’s technical guidance and conserve the school’s recreational and sports facilities as best as possible. These matters are considered on a case by case basis having a regard to the size of the individual school site, the position of the existing school building and appropriate location of the new school accommodation. The overall approach is to focus on the accommodation requirements for the school and to do so in a manner that minimises the impact on the external facilities at the school.
In the development of project briefs for the delivery of school building projects, my Department provides guidance on how best to cater for any displaced external play space. Typically, the project brief defines the best location for the proposed extension and then if required allows for the relocation of the displaced play area elsewhere on site should it be required. In general, if the site is so restricted that there is no place to relocate the play area, the project brief may also consider exploration of roof top play areas.
Each school site presents its own unique technical challenges and it is expected that school design teams take the following factors into account when developing project designs:
• Scope for a two-storey rather than single storey extension to minimise footprint on the existing school site
• Requirement for existing Ball Court etc. to be relocated elsewhere on site where feasible
• Site topography and gradient
My Department is conscious that a well-designed external environment enhances the educational experience for all pupils. This is reflected in my Department’s Design Guidelines for delivery of school building projects. However, it is important to note that these are guidelines and flexibility is required on how they are implemented at individual project level having regard to the size and constraints of individual school sites.
I want to reassure the Deputy of my commitment to ensuring school building projects are delivered in a manner that conserves external play areas as best as possible.