Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
481. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her Department will fund the construction of a general purpose/physical education hall in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12551/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that the Department approved significant capital funding for the school in question under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The project approved was for 12x General classrooms, 1x Technology room & Prep area, 2x Home Economics rooms, 1x Art craft room, 1x Science lab & prep area 2x WC and 1x staff room. This project was devolved to the school authorities for delivery and it is currently at stage 4, construction stage.
The school in question also requested funding for a new sports hall. However, provision for GP/PE halls does not fall within the remit of the ASA scheme.
The purpose of my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings.
Almost 95% of the post primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the Department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, including the completion of over 750 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
However, the main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.
The Department has to prioritise its limited capital resources, in the context both of the ongoing requirement for additional school places, including Special Education Needs places, and the high construction inflation which has significantly impacted on the cost of projects that we must deliver.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question are aware of my Department's current position on their request for funding for a sports hall. Their request will be considered when funding for this type of school accommodation is available.
