Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I join Deputy Gogarty in condemning the actions tonight of those who engaged in thuggery. We are, and should be, as Deputy Gogarty rightly said, thinking about the young girl who was attacked. We send our best wishes to her. We also think of the member of An Garda Síochána who was attacked tonight in the line of duty. All of us who are balanced and fair people recognise there is no place in society for what happened tonight. I am conscious Deputy Gogarty has raised legitimate questions about the concerns of residents and I hope we can address them further.

I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising the matter regarding the Department of Education and Youth guidelines. I am taking this matter for the Minister for Education and Youth. It provides me with an opportunity to discuss the role of the Department's technical guidance documents and school design guidance documentation. To facilitate the design of new school buildings, the Department has developed a suite of technical guidance documents and school design guides, which provide guidance on a wide range of technical and building design-related issues for use by school authorities and design teams. These guidance documents have been in operation for a number of years and are continually reviewed and updated based on an ongoing policy of research, curriculum development and feedback.

School design guidance documents include a range of multiuse and flexible time spaces, including general purpose halls and internal and external multiuse physical education spaces. These spaces are also designed to allow for after-school community activities. As a former teacher and a former director of adult education, I concur with Deputy Gogarty that a school is best served by being able to have flexibility regarding after-school use also. At a school where I worked, I had the pleasure of being involved in the transition to a new school building as part of a public-private partnership. In saying this, I agree with the points raised by Deputy Gogarty on the use of space and buildings.

The design briefs for contemporary school building projects include social spaces and active circulation areas outside of the formal classroom settings that facilitate a more flexible and multi-purpose type of environment for collaborative learning and social interactions. These spaces contribute to the well-being of students and all of the school community. There are also a number of design layouts for specific school facilities such as for music, art, graphics, library and technology rooms, which offer a more flexible approach to creative learning. The guidance states that the architecture of the school should promote cross-disciplinary learning. The learning environment is a type of pedagogical tool as it subtly supports learning through textures, colours, materials and, most of all, the innovative use of space. In this way, the interiors can be regrouped and used flexibly for various purposes.

Regarding the specific query on hand-drying facilities in schools, paper, cotton or linen towel dispensers are classified as loose furniture and fittings and are not part of the construction contract for new school building projects. I was not aware of that until I read this reply earlier this evening. Some schools may choose to install electric air hand dryers. However, under current departmental guidance based on previous research and an assessment of a number of criteria, it is recommended that the provision of electric air hand dryers in schools be carefully considered on health, noise and energy consumption grounds. Electric hand dryers are not considered the most effective means for children in primary schools to dry their hands with regard to the removal of bacteria as young children will not spend sufficient time at the unit. The noise generated by dryers in toilet en suites within primary school classrooms can also be disruptive to the teaching and leaning environment. Also, in relation to universal accessibility, towel dispensers are easy to use with a single hand and by people with limited manual dexterity and reduced hand and arm movement. As with all areas of school design guidance, this will continue to be reviewed and considered in line with technological and regulatory developments.

I do not have a specific answer in relation to the Holy Family school in Rathcoole but I am happy to go back to the Department to get further information for the Deputy.

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