Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While we need outdoor facilities, children could not be outdoors for the past three months with the rain and the cold. Outdoor facilities are not a real option in the winter months in Ireland. School assemblies cannot be held in these school halls because they are too small and they cannot accommodate school plays at the end the year or host indoor tournaments. I have been involved in coaching hurling, football and Gaelic football all my life. The Minister is saying that a school hall for eight classrooms and 16 classrooms is the same. She could at least use the proper rationale. She said a 24-classroom school has nearly 600 sq. m, whereas a 16-classroom building, which is two thirds of that, will have 195 sq. m. There should be at least an extra 100 sq. m for every eight classes. I ask the Minister to extend the size of school halls so that they are fit for purpose. If a school takes on an extra classroom over the year, will the Minister commit to building it a proper sized hall?

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