Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 850: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that have had to use their physical education rooms as general class rooms at the behest of her Department to overcome space problems for classes in primary and secondary schools in each of the past three years; the alternative offered to such schools to obtain physical education facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10193/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is the policy of my Department to provide for the delivery of a broad and balanced physical education curriculum at both primary and post-primary levels. Many schools have general purposes rooms or physical education halls and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are utilised for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. Many schools also use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

The provision of general purposes rooms and multipurpose spaces for primary schools is considered within the design brief for new schools and-or renovation-extension school building projects. This is done in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects. Detailed information in the format requested is not available, but should the Deputy have a question on a particular school, I will be happy to provide a response.