Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which efforts are currently being made to incorporate the provision of afterschool services at every school in the context of the planning stages of the school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45319/23]
View answerThe Department prioritises its capital funding for the provision of school accommodation to meet school place requirements, including for children with special educational needs. It does not provide funding towards the provision of accommodation for childcare or other non-school related services. School authorities or third parties may occasionally fund the provision of such accommodation but the Department does not hold records in this respect.
The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and care, school-age childcare and after school activities.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, a set of Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours is available on my Department’s website. My Department recently reviewed these Guidelines. The review involved consultation with the relevant stakeholders, including representatives of schools and other government departments which engage with the community and voluntary sectors. As part of the Review my Department conducted a survey. The survey was issued to patron bodies of a sample of selected primary and post-primary schools for distribution. The review included whether and how their school facilities are currently used by organisations other than the school, future plans for the use of school buildings and any current barriers encountered regarding the use of school buildings after hours. The responses to the survey were returned and analysed and have informed this review. Further engagement has taken place with the stakeholders and patron bodies on the Procedures/Guidelines and the information received from them will allow the Procedures/Guidelines to be finalised. When the review is completed, and in consultation with school authorities, the new Procedures will be published and all schools will be notified of the changes.
