Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the physical education facilities that are available at a number of schools (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39592/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information in the format requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The PE curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purposes room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are utilised for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. 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 PE facilities. In this regard, the provision of multi-purpose space and outdoor play areas for primary schools will continue to be considered within the design brief for new schools and renovation or extension projects. This will be done in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects.

At second level, it is the policy of the Department to provide a PE hall to a school that does not already have such a facility. Again, this is considered as part of the design brief for new schools and for major renovation or extension projects, within available resources and the overall published criteria for prioritising projects. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is currently undertaking a national audit of sports facilities in communities around the country which will provide useful information on facilities available to schools. In the meantime, progress on all applications for major capital funding from schools in the area in question are being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.