Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Physical Education Facilities.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

723 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department will reconsider the decision of refusing funding in respect of the provision of a sports hall in Meánscoil San Nioclas in the Ring Gaeltacht (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16995/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

A new school catering for 100 pupils is under construction for Meánscoil San Nioclas at a cost of over €1.7 million. This school will also be furnished and equipped to current standards at significant cost.

The second level school building programme has expanded greatly over the past number of years. However, in addition to building new schools and extending existing schools in areas of increasing population, much of the available funding is being directed towards bringing existing school accommodation up to an acceptable standard and providing schools with the accommodation necessary to enable them to deliver the core curriculum to their pupils. For many years this Department was not in a position to undertake a comprehensive programme of refurbishing, developing and, where necessary expanding, the second level school infrastructure. This has led to a position where many schools are urgently in need of significant capital expenditure, so that the demand for funding from the second level capital programme is very heavy.

It is in this context that my Department will not be in a position to consider funding the provision of a PE hall at the school.

Question No. 724 answered with Question No. 698.