Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I want to be careful not to cross into the remit of local authorities. I am aware from my own experience that there can be very positive and proactive engagement between local authorities and local schools in terms of improving access, particularly if the school is located on a busy road or whatever the case might be. That would be a matter for the local authority.

In terms of provision for hallaí and so on, this is an area in which we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, who has responsibility for sport in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. There is an opportunity for facilities in schools to be supported by that Department through provision of sports capital funding, for example, which will ultimately also benefit communities. This is an area the Minister of State and I are very keen to progress. He will be advocating that sort of cross-community support between the local community and the school in advancing additional provision, whether it be a school hall, a sporting facility or otherwise. That will very much build on the work of his predecessor in the Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, in regard to sports capital funding. It is an area that will be addressed very differently by the new Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, in co-operation between his education and sport remits into the future.