Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am on the board of management of Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers on the north side of Cork city. It is a DEIS school and has received sanction for a brand-new build to accommodate 300 students. However, there is no PE hall as part of that. This is a DEIS school in the heart of Cork's north side. The board of management has been told it must fundraise €100,000 if we want a PE hall. May I have an explanation as to why DEIS schools are being forced to fundraise €100,000 or the children will not get a PE hall? I ask for clarity on that. We are holding events at the moment to raise the money. If we cannot give the Department a commitment that we will come up with the money, we are told we will not get a proper PE hall.

If we cannot give the Department a commitment that we will come up with the money, we are told we will not get a proper PE hall. Another school, Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn in Montenotte, was built in the past two years and did not get a proper PE hall. We are talking about getting children involved in sport and PE is a means to do that. When was the decision made not to provide PE halls for primary schools, especially in DEIS areas but in all schools? That is an issue on which the Chairman has touched. We need to reverse the decision on that policy. I cannot find out who made that policy decision and when.