Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and appreciate the case he makes and the importance of the provision of these sorts of facilities in our schools. As I have previously outlined, they are part of funding via the NDP but we are looking towards the latter half of the timeframe of the plan for allocation. It is something of which I am conscious. I must also point out there is an enormous budgetary constraint in terms of provision. A GP room, for example, for a four-classroom primary school comes in at around €684,000. For an eight- to 16-classroom primary school, the cost is more than €900,00. A GP room for a 24-classroom primary school costs €1.8 million. A PE hall costs in excess of €3 million. I am conscious of the need, particularly from a health and fitness point of view and also on the basis of the additional resource that it provides to a school. I will do all that I can to advance that as quickly as possible, given the financial constraints we face.

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