Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2020
82. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the facilities that have been provided to schools to allow for a full and safe return to sporting activities for the 2020-21 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29975/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. Other P.E. facilities e.g. pitches are provided, where appropriate and in the context of available resources and site conditions, under my Department’s school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan.
Many schools have a general purpose room/sports hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. However, local circumstances due to Covid may have limited schools access to some of these facilities.
Under the July Stimulus Programme, my Department secured a €375m support package to enable the safe return for schools. This included additional funding of €75m which was allocated to cover an enhanced Minor Works Grant at primary level and a once off Minor Works Grant at post-primary level (paid automatically to schools in the free scheme and on application basis to schools in fee-charging sector).
There was €42m allocated to Post Primary schools and €30m allocated to primary schools. In addition, due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, the €29m Minor Works Grant (MWG) that is generally paid to primary schools in either December or January of each school year was paid under the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in July 2020.
The main focus of minor works funding in 2020 was on creating extra space for classes within existing school buildings and this was very successfully done in a short period of time to enable physical distancing arrangements to be put in place. This operated on a local devolved basis and involved a variety of solutions being put in place at individual school level.
