Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this matter because it provides me with an opportunity to outline the position on the proposed review of the guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours and the Government's firm commitment on allowing school buildings to be used where possible for community, educational and recreational use outside of school hours.

The Department of Education published the guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours in October 2017. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance to schools on their current arrangements for the use of school buildings outside of school hours. The guidelines outline the various scenarios and inform where consent of the Department of Education is required. The publication of the guidelines followed a programme for Government commitment on the utilisation of primary school buildings for after-school care provision for school-age children to offer more options and flexibility to parents where there is demand for such a service, in partnership with community groups or private providers. In section 10 of the programme for Government, there is another commitment that school buildings must be utilised outside of school hours if they are to remain at the centre of their communities and this usage should include after-school care, homework clubs and other community activities where demand exists.

From various consultations undertaken as part of this process, it was evident that school property owners, school authorities and other stakeholders are, in general, favourably disposed to the use of their school buildings outside of school hours where this is appropriate, and many have considerable experience in doing so. The purpose of the guidelines is to provide guidance to schools on their current arrangements for the use of school buildings outside of school hours or to schools considering putting such arrangements in place. The guidelines also aim to address some of the issues raised by education partners as part of the consultation process and to make schools aware of the types of issues that should be considered when a school wishes to make its facilities available outside of school hours.

It is not intended that these guidelines are exhaustive or prescriptive and it is recognised that the management of school premises at local level is a matter for the relevant school authorities. The Department fully appreciates that decisions to make school premises available ultimately lie with the relevant trustees or property owners following a recommendation from the school authorities, and that the needs of the school, teachers and pupils must be prioritised. However, it is also the case that schools are often at the centre of sustainable communities and there are mutual benefits in building links with the local community, particularly in areas where schools have been newly established and where school facilities lend themselves to community use.

The Minister and her Department are committed to a review of the guidelines. This review will include consultation with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of schools and other Departments which engage with the community and voluntary sectors. The Department has already commenced a series of engagements with other Departments and plans further consultation in the near future. Furthermore, the Department plans to conduct a survey of a sample of schools regarding their experience in engaging with community and recreational groups seeking to use school property. This survey will commence in the first quarter of 2023.