asked the Minister for Education if he will list the funds made available by his Department for the building of sports halls and gymnasiums in (a) secondary schools, (b) vocational schools and (c) community and comprehensive schools in 1978, 1979 and 1980; the amount given to each school; the location of each school; and the percentage of the total cost of such halls which the grant reflected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sports Facilities Grants.
13.
As I informed the Deputy on 13 December 1979 in reply to Dáil questions Nos. 6 and 7, columns 1733 to 1737 of the Official Report, I have sanctioned the provision of 13 physical education halls at second level schools. It would not be in accordance with normal practice to give information in relation to the amount of the grant payable in the case of an individual school.
One hall is already under construction at Moneenageisha Vocational School, Galway. Contractors have been selected in the following six cases and work is expected to commence shortly: Community School, Birr, County Offaly; Vocational School, Monaghan; Vocational School, Cabinteely, Dublin; Vocational School, Donahies, Dublin; Vocational School, Old Bawn, Dublin; Vocational School, Springfield, Dublin.
Tenders have been received in a further three cases: Community School, Bishopstown, Cork; Vocational School, Mitchelstown, County Cork; Vocational School, Knocknaheeney, Cork. Tenders are being sought in the following cases: Vocational School, Lisduggan, Waterford; Vocational School, Donegal town.
There was no expenditure on physical education halls in 1978 and 1979. The amount of the expenditure to be incurred in 1980 is estimated at £75,000.
How many secondary schools have been grant-aided in respect of sports halls? If the Minister spent only a little over £70,000 this year, that is not much of an effort at a national policy.
In regard to the actual cases listed in my reply, the Deputy will be aware that in many cases the main building of the school is in progress. He would understand that the physical education halls would be associated with the building of the main schools. With regard to the first part of his question, a list of secondary schools which will be grant-aided for the provision of physical education halls has been made out and will be published shortly.
When can I expect to receive this list? Why have secondary schools not been able to get sanction for money in respect of sports halls already built?
Mainly because during the period in office of the previous Government, not one single penny, not one bit of planning, went into the provision——
That is not right.
Where is the vocational school in Cabinteely the Minister identified in his reply?
The new community school.
I thought I heard him say a vocational school. In relation to the list of grant-aided schools, can he tell the House whether the amount of grant will be identified in each case?
There is a fixed proportion of grants made available for capital works at secondary schools. In the case of physical education halls there may be a variation on this, depending on what is provided, whether it is a fully fledged physical education hall or whether certain facilities in aid of physical education are being provided.
Does the Minister envisage that there will be an upper ceiling on the grant being provided to secondary schools under the percentage formula?
Yes.
What is that upper ceiling?
It is the percentage that obtains with regard to capital development generally in secondary schools.
There is no cash limit?