Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Education provides its infrastructure. However, schools can apply under the sports capital programme in partnership with sports clubs. There are a number of examples of that. We have seen difficulties with that at times because sometimes the owners of schools, which, generally speaking, are diocesan trusts, are unwilling to sign the necessary paperwork to make an application when it involves coming together with a sports club. From our Department's point of view, schools can apply but our condition is they do so together with a sports club. What the Department of Education does as regards its facilities, building schools and a PE programme is totally separate. Where there are facilities in schools, we want to make sure the community has as much access as possible to them, provided the schools get priority and it does not place a huge administrative or cost burden on those schools. These things are to be worked out but, ultimately, that co-operation will be very positive.

We strongly encourage schools to apply to our Department under the sports capital programme. We also encourage dioceses that own these buildings and sites and do not allow their schools to take part in this to reconsider and look at those schools and sports clubs that do take part and see how successful it is for them and the communities served by them.