Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will raise the issue of the review that has been agreed to by the Minister for Education with regard to the use of schools for lifelong learning, other courses and so on. Schools predominantly finish by 5 p.m. The buildings then stand empty. There are buildings that have been the subject of investment from the Department and the Government over many years. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, has committed to carrying out a review. Where I am from in Limerick, the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival is coming up on 23 May. This event is run for a week every year. Many events are run in libraries, schools and other buildings. Those kinds of festivals can be built upon, especially if facilities are available for use. Senator Buttimer referred to men's sheds. I met with a women's shed group recently. It wants to start up and is looking for a permanent home. We could look at using school buildings for community uses. The Irish Men's Sheds Association has been very successful. Women's sheds also have an awful lot to contribute. We could look at organisations like that using buildings when they are vacant in the evenings. I would like to see the review carried out as quickly as possible because there are many community groups out there that are looking for buildings to use. It would be very positive for the community especially because different funding schemes come up from time to time but, if groups do not have permanent use of a building, they can fall between the cracks. I would certainly like that review to be carried out sooner rather than later.