David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I congratulate him and his Department on the work they are doing and the money that is being made available. Much of the money that is being put forward is dependent on facilities being made available such as playing fields, playgrounds, sports facilities, halls and so forth. In many instances, where communities have expanded greatly in the past number of years, there are no such facilities except the local school.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours which were issued in October 2017 by the Department of Education and Skills which encouraged the use of local schools but in many instances these school buildings are not available. Doors are locked at 3 p.m. or 3.30 p.m. There are fantastic sports halls and community rooms in these schools. They are all locked up all evening and all night and are not available to communities. Would the Minister of State consider looking at these guidelines to see what could be done to encourage and support the schools and the communities to make these facilities available? Does the Minister of State not agree that this kind of move would be of great benefit, especially where there are no community halls, rooms or sports facilities available to communities?

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