Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 663: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding available to schools that wish to convert land into a sports field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22807/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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PE, general purpose and outdoor play facilities have been provided for schools all over the country through the School Building and Modernisation Programme. Over €2.6 billion has been provided for school building infrastructure between 2000 and 2006 and a further €4.5 billion is to be invested under the new National Development Plan 2007-2013.

Major building projects for primary schools include provision for sports fields as part of the building contract subject to site suitability. The necessity to provide sufficient space for sporting activity is also a factor in the acquisition of sites for new post primary schools. However, provision of a sports field is not typically part of the building project for post-primary schools. Instead, and depending on availability of funding, a grant is given to new post primary schools for such provision.