Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
619. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider developing new school playground guidelines and undertake an analysis of spaces and funds for schools to create different outdoor areas to address the different needs of children, based on the playground initiative introduced by a school (details supplied). [1332/24]
View answer620. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider funding playground initiatives similar to the one introduced by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1333/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together.
I 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. The play space also includes specific provision designed to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. 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.
Outside of school building projects, the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards included a category for External environment projects, which included playgrounds. Primary schools can also use their Minor Works Grant to fund playground improvements.
The available outdoor area at existing schools varies significantly across the circa 4,000 schools, with each school sitting in its own local context: some in highly urban areas, some in rural locations. Some schools will have large sites, others will be constrained, and there are variances in the level of access to adjacent facilities. The needs and interests of each school's student cohort can also vary. In that context, each school is best placed to consider their own specific circumstances as part of any playground upgrade works.
