Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
375 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason it is the policy of his Department to ask schools to use PE rooms or halls as classrooms before they are entitled to apply for new classrooms or temporary accommodation; if any such requests have been made of schools in County Kerry recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21526/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraLet me make clear that the policy of my Department is to provide for the delivery of a broad and balanced physical education curriculum at primary and post-primary levels. In relation to facilities generally, the position is that many primary schools have a general purposes room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are utilised for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. Many schools also use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
A particular difficulty arose this year in relation to some schools in need of additional accommodation to facilitate extra teacher appointments. In the context of the available funding for temporary accommodation and the number of applications for that funding in the current year it was not possible to approve all applications received.
As an interim measure some schools were advised to maximise the use of existing accommodation and my Department is considering these applications further with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005.
