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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

School community use

Summary

The Deputy urged wider community access to school facilities through best-practice models and patron policies. The Taoiseach agreed, backed joint use of school and club facilities, and answered “Yes” when asked to confirm his support.

I am sure the Taoiseach, as a former Minister for Education, will agree that efforts to open school facilities for wider community use have not succeeded. I hope he will also agree that we should take immediate action to tap into this potential. I recommend three specific things to the Taoiseach. First, the education and training boards, ETBs, should deliver a best-practice model. Second, all school patrons should be asked to develop a policy to accommodate the wider community, and that should be a factor that is considered when they are looking for improvements or extensions. Third, Departments across the Government should seek to develop the campus concept as a way of utilising lands that are often in patronage ownership. They have to be tapped for wider community use.

Comment on this

I do not disagree. It has always been the bane of politicians' lives that they could not get a pitch or access to a hall, particularly in State-owned schools such as the ETB schools, formerly vocational education committee schools. I was struck by the number of school and club partnerships in the recent sport applications for funding that got funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. That is the way to go. Rather than having two separate sports halls, pitches or whatever, adjacent to each other, there should be joint initiatives on sport. I remember a long time ago when a special plea was made to me for a full-size basketball hall in Coláiste na Sceilge as opposed to the Department's view of a physical education hall, which was much smaller. The Kerry representatives at the time made a very effective appeal and the result was that Kerry won one or two All-Ireland titles as a result. I agree 100% with the Deputy.

Comment on this

Is that a "Yes"?

Comment on this

Yes.

Comment on this