School buildings and classroom use
Senator Burke asked for a debate on school buildings and whether classroom designs could better support community use after school hours.
I ask that we would, at some stage, have the Minister for Education and Skills to the House to discuss school buildings. There are many situations where an extension to a school is taking place and it might suit to have a larger classroom that the community is able to use after school hours. This would probably require a change of policy in regard to the type of classrooms or extensions to national schools or secondary schools that are permitted. I ask that the Minister would come to the House to discuss such a change of policy in the context of a community advocating a different size classroom, which would help the community provide other activities after school.