Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

The Deputy is right to raise the issue of residents in the area. There is fear, property has been damaged and public transport stopped. People have been discommoded and unable to get to and from work and home tonight. It is important that we send a strong message not just to those who have rioted but to the people who are affected and living in fear.

I have a huge amount of sympathy with the Deputy in regard to this Topical Issue. As a former director of education and teacher, what he is saying about community facilities and pitches makes absolute sense to me. I also agree with him on a blended approach at second level in particular. The Department has developed a suite of technical guidance documents and school design guides, which are continually reviewed. I hope, based upon our conversation tonight, they can be updated based on research, feedback and curriculum development. The Deputy's contribution tonight is part of that feedback. A range of multi-use and flexible spaces exists within schools, both internally and externally. These spaces are also designed for the after-school community. I must take a look at the Adamstown model but there are areas where we can improve and do better. The installation of electric dryers is a decision for individual schools but a blended approach, in second level in particular, is one that I hope the planning and building unit in the Department will take note of and provide technical advice to schools on. That blended model is the right approach, working to put our schools at the heart of our communities and further integrating them through community use of school facilities. Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

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