Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether there is a total absence of indoor recreational facilities in primary and secondary schools in Enniscorthy, County Wexford; her plans for providing same to these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39506/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I reject the Deputy's assertion that there is a total absence of indoor recreational facilities in primary and secondary schools in Enniscorthy. With regard to physical education facilities throughout the country generally, the physical education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

My Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve physical education facilities. The provision of such facilities is an integral part of the design process for new school buildings or where an existing school building is undergoing a major refurbishment or extension. This is done in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects.

In addition to this, the school planning section of my Department is working proactively with some local authorities to explore the possibility of the development of school provision in tandem with the development of community facilities. This enhanced cooperation has the effect of minimising my Department's land requirements and, thus, reducing site costs while, at the same time, providing local communities with new schools with enhanced facilities such as sports facilities, playing pitches and so forth. The Deputy may also be aware that the Department of Art, Sports and Tourism is currently undertaking a national audit of sports facilities in communities around the country, which will also provide useful information on facilities available to schools.