George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)

CBS Secondary School in New Ross currently has an enrolment of 413 students. It is a coeducational DEIS school and remains the only secondary school in County Wexford without a sports hall. This is a significant disparity which leaves the students and teachers at the school at a significant disadvantage. It is my understanding that the Department of education has already approved, in principle, the construction of a full-sized sports hall internally to comprise of 594 sq. m with an overall scale of 1,048 sq. m if you include all the storage and ancillary services.

An action plan is now urgently needed for the funding to turn the approval into reality. The absence of such a facility in this school not only impacts on the ability to deliver a comprehensive physical education curriculum but also contradicts previous Government strategies for encouraging youth participation in sports and physical activity. We all know these are crucial for student well-being. Investing in a sports hall aligns with national priorities to promote health, fitness and inclusion in education.

The current PE facilities in the school are grossly inadequate and present numerous challenges, particularly in terms of health and safety. There are only two outdoor basketball courts, which are covered in tarmac. This surface is deteriorating, with large cracks appearing in several areas. The outdoor grass area is very uneven and sloped and unsuitable for safe sporting activities. While the school does have an indoor sports area, it is essentially a large classroom. I was in it for the Darkness Into Light event a couple of weeks ago and it really is just a large classroom. The school is expected to carry on its PE activities there. All ball sports or energetic activities are ruled out due to the size of the room. The equipment for PE is stored in a cargo container with no electricity. This creates its own safety risks, particularly during the winter months when light is poor.

The inadequacies in the current set-up extend to health and safety concerns. The outdoor yard is hazardous, especially during wet conditions. The school is also unable to offer students proper changing and shower facilities after their PE classes. Beyond the immediate concerns of health and safety and practicalities, the ability to deliver a comprehensive and varied PE curriculum is significantly hampered. Unfortunately, planning is often dictated by weather and facility limitations, rather than the students' needs. This should not be the case for students in a DEIS school.

Believe it or not, the school celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, yet the sports and PE facilities in the school have seen little progress since 1849. A sports hall would also serve a broader purpose in the school community. It would provide essential space for whole-school events such as assemblies and celebrations. At present the only option for gathering the entire student body together is the local parish church in New Ross. The school has had to hire outdoor stages for school awards and other events. Obviously, these pose logistical challenges when weather conditions are unfavourable.

A sports hall would also provide suitable space for hosting exams, which the school currently struggles with, given the limited indoor facilities. The school is a central part of New Ross town. It offers facilities, albeit limited, to the New Ross Musical Society, St. Michael's Theatre Musical Society, New Ross Drama Workshop and the Polish school. The school also offers its limited outdoor facilities to New Ross Town FC and to United Striders AC. They make use of the off-site fields, which are approximately 1 km from the school. Given the constraints, the school really does need this facility. It should be an urgent addition to this school after 175 years.

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