Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of post-primary schools without indoor sports halls or similar facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10793/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that 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 for all pupils attending schools.

My Department's design guidelines include, where appropriate for PE Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. PE facilities have been provided, where appropriate, as part of my Department's record school building programme which between 2000 and 2006 involved the delivery of over 7,800 projects with an investment of €2.6 billion.

The budget for 2007 is the first year of the roll out of the new NDP which will involve an investment of over €4.5 billion in school buildings over the next 7 years. This multi-annual funding will enable my Department to continue to take a proactive approach to the provision of modern school accommodation including PE facilities.