Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:126 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education when legislation on the problem of insurance cover for arts and cultural groups using schools will be introduced.
Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - School Facilities Available to Cultural Groups.
The question of making school facilities available to arts and cultural groups or to other groups or individuals is one for the school managerial authorities. I am aware that many schools already make their premises available as suggested by the Deputy and I should mention that my Department issued a circular to post-primary schools in April 1992, urging them to make their premises available as far as practicable.
I am very much in favour of the use of school premises for community purposes outside of school hours and would strongly urge that school buildings provided by way of State aid should be readily available for such use. I will be addressing this matter further in the forthcoming White Paper on Education.
Groups or individuals using school premises are required to take out their own insurance cover. I do not propose to introduce any change in this regard.