Seán Haughey
Ceist:210 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will provide finance from the 1997 budget to allow St. David's CBS, Artane, Dublin 5 to build a much needed gym; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4257/97]
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
An application for grant assistance towards the provisions of a PE hall at St. David's CBS, Artane, has been received in my Department.
It is the policy of my Department's planning and building unit to incorporate PE facilities and changing areas into the schedule of accommodation for new schools or for major extentions to schools where previously there was no such accommodation or unsatisfactory existing facilities.
Provision has been made for the architectural planning of 12 PE halls in the 1997 capital programme at post-primary schools which do not already have PE halls with a view to commencing construction on a number of these projects during the course of the year. The question of providing PE facilities can only be considered in the context of capital available for post-primary building purposes generally. Provision of PE facilities where these are not being planned at present will resume as soon as pressure on available resources for classroom accommodation has eased.