Vol. 464 No. 7
99 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the schools that were included in the 1996 capital programme for physical education halls; the sums of money allocated; the schools which have not been included in the 1996 capital programme but which have applications with her Department for funding for physical education halls; the progress, if any, being made in respect of this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8880/96]
The schools that were included in the 1996 capital programme for physical education halls are as follows:— Ballyvolane St. Aidan's community college, Bandon vocational school, Baldoyle Grange community college, Bayside community school, Collinstown Park community college, Firhouse community college, Killinarden community school, Rathcoole community school, Willington community college, Clane community school, Leixlip community school and Causeway vocational school.
A total of £500,000 was allocated to commence construction on three of these projects in 1996 and to complete architectural planning on the remaining, where appropriate.
Details relating to other schools that have applications lodged with my Department's post-primary building unit for the provision of PE facilities are not readily available.
Because of the huge demand for additional classroom accommodation in schools throughout the country, I am not in a position at this stage to say when a programme for the provision of PE halls will be provided. However, should financial circumstances permit, schools currently without these facilities will be given every consideration.
100 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the criteria for considering requests in respect of sports/assembly halls in view of the request from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the capital allocation that is available for such halls in 1996; the number of school halls that have been grant aided in each of the last five years; whether this school will receive the funding requested; the local fundraising, if any, that is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8895/96]
It is the policy of my Department to provide physical education facilities on a phased basis at all second-level schools where such facilities are not already available.
The principal factor which determines progress in this area is the amount of capital funding available in any given financial year. Given the limited resources available, the priority for the foreseeable future as far as the second-level capital programme is concerned will continue to be the provision of essential classroom accommodation. However, it was found possible to make a provision of £500,000 in the 1996 capital programme for the architectural planning of twelve PE halls.
In the case of second-level provision is made for PE halls where new schools or major extensions are being developed. Therefore, details in relation to the number of PE halls which have been grant-aided in each of the last five years are not readily available.
The provision of indoor sports accommodation in existing schools will resume as soon as pressure on available resources for urgent classroom accommodation has eased. My Department grant-aids 90 per cent of the cost of the provision of a standard PE hall, the balance of the moneys being met by the school authority.
