Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The policy of my Department is to support the use of school premises and facilities for community and recreational purposes where possible. In October 2017, following consultation with the relevant school authorities, my Department published guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours. These guidelines can be viewed on my Department's website. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for schools relating to the use of school buildings outside of school hours and for those schools that are considering putting such arrangements in place.

Any decision to make school facilities available lies with the relevant trustees or property owners having regard to the requirements of the school, staff and students. Schools are often the centre of sustainable communities and there can be mutual benefits in building links with the local community. Many schools recognise this and play an important role in their wider communities and many schools make their facilities available outside of school hours for a variety of different uses at a variety of different times throughout the year.

During the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, a school in considering applications should carry out a risk assessment to ensure that any organisation intending to use the school's facilities can guarantee the school that all public health requirements will be adhered to. This is something of which we are particularly conscious as we journey through the Covid-19 pandemic.

I want to acknowledge that in the vast majority of schools there is a very strong alignment between local communities and local schools. I acknowledge that for many communities the school is at the heart and very centre of many community activities as they operate within a local community. That is something I would welcome. It is important that schools within communities continue to build, grow and nurture links.

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