John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank the Senators for raising this matter because it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to indicate the current position in respect of the provision of a PE hall at Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair. It appears that Senator Doherty has already seen my reply but I will read it into the record in any event.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 731 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. None the less, the Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

The Government has dramatically increased investment in the schools building programme from slightly in excess of €90 million in 1997 to almost €600 million this year. Under the lifetime of the national development plan almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This is an unprecedented level of capital investment which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools.

With regard to sports in our schools, the PE curricula at primary and post-primary level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each school to tailor its programme to the facilities available. Within available resources and overall published criteria for prioritising projects, it is the policy of the Department of Education and Science to provide post-primary schools with PE halls where no such facility exists. This is considered as part of the design brief for new schools and for major renovation or extension projects.

The number of schools with general purpose rooms and PE halls is increasing all the time, while practically all schools have outside exercise space. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Considering the facilities schools have on site is just part of the picture because they also may have access to excellent local sports facilities, which have been greatly expanded and improved in recent years through funding from the Government's sports capital programme.

Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair is a co-educational facility with an enrolment of some 300 students. I am pleased to inform the Senators that a PE hall of 630 sq. m. is being provided for this school and that the project has reached the advanced stages of architectural planning. The project is being co-funded by the Departments of Education and Science and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. While it is not possible as a result of higher competing priorities — I refer in particular to the need to provide new schools in rapidly developing areas — to be precise regarding when this project will go to construction, it will be considered for progression on an ongoing basis as the school building and modernisation programme is rolled out. As stated, the latter is being underpinned by an investment €4.5 billion under the national development plan.

I again thank the Senators for raising this matter. I assure them the Government is acutely aware of the need to ensure all our schools have adequate sports facilities. Such facilities will be put in place over time.