Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:165 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he is taking to ensure that greater locker space is provided in all existing schools. [22983/01]
Written Answers. - School Accommodation.
A working group set up in autumn 1997 to examine the potential problems caused by the weight of heavy school bags presented its report in July 1998. The terms of reference of the working group were to consider the issue of heavy school bags and, in particular, the extent of the problem; the factors which contribute to the problem; and possible implications of the problem, particularly for the health of pupils.
The group's report outlined a number of recommendations that had implications, not only for my Department, but also for schools, parents and publishers.
The report acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level and one of the main recommendations related to the need to heighten the awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy schoolbags.
However, included in this report was a recommendation that my Department should examine the feasibility of providing for appropriate storage facilities in future specifications for furniture manufacturers. Accordingly, the building unit of my Department is examining the possibility of incorporating storage facilities in the provision of furniture in the future. In relation to second level schools, my Department continues to afford schools the option of lockers for book storage in the case of new schools or new extensions for existing schools in line with the report's recommendations. Any applications to my Department for the provision of lockers from existing second level schools that have not applied for any other building work are treated on their own merits and issues such as the possibility of safely incorporating locker space and competing priorities for the funding available for capital work in second level schools must be considered.