Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Recently, I had discussions on the sports capital and equipment programme with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and I know this scheme has been opened up to schools and education and training boards, provided that they make a joint application for local sports organisations.

That is welcome but does not go far enough to address the infrastructural deficits in some of our schools, which are in desperate need of facilities. There is an opportunity to better highlight the availability of funding pathways within the Department and ensure that boards of management and principals are fully aware of the available funding opportunities. While the sports capital programme will be good for sporting needs such as multisport facilities, there is a need for funding to be prioritised for non-sporting facilities, such as general purpose rooms and assembly or PE halls, as some schools have no such facility. I ask the Minister to give some consideration to providing dedicated funding streams for general, multipurpose PE halls in primary school. I know of the case of Derrywash National School, the representatives of which have been continuously in contact with me on this matter.

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