asked the Minister for Education the contents of any regulation or guidelines that govern the minimum classroom space, heating and fire regulations, relating to primary schools.
Written Answers. - Primary School Regulations.
283.
In relation to the minimum classroom space in primary schools. I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 15 October 1987 to a question raised by Deputy Tom Fitzpatrick.
I understand the Deputy to be raising the question of heating and fire regulations mainly in the context of designing and building primary schools. while the Rules for National Schools make no direct reference to these subjects, building projects for which grants are sought from my Department must be professionally designed, approved and executed in accordance with the planning data issued by my Department to the consultants involved. It can also be taken that heating systems and fire safety features would have to be in accordance with the specifications required by the relevant local authority services.
With regard to the responsibilities of boards of management in these matters, I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 3 December 1987 to a question raised by Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla on the subject of heating levels in national schools. The subject of fire danger is dealt with in departmental Circular 7/81 which urges boards of management to draw attention to the dangers of fire and recommends that fire drills should be carried out regularly.