Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his options to preserve jobs and services at the physical education halls of schools (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36370/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The halls referred to by the Deputy were built as part of a programme to develop community sports halls in drugs task force areas in Dublin and Cork. The stated objective of the programme was that each hall would be dual use in nature in that they would be accessible to the wider community as well as to the local school population. The intention was that, apart from normal school usage, the facilities would be available as much as possible to the community and, in particular, to target groups such as youth at risk.

An application was made by my Department in 2006 for dormant accounts funding to enable community usage of the halls to commence. Government approval was received in 2007 for the drawdown of funding of approximately €2.1 million in respect of six of the halls, including those referred to by the Deputy. In regard to these six halls, management structures were put in place and community groups were given access.

The position is that the allocated dormant accounts funding will provide for the operation of these halls until the end of 2008. My Department does not fund community facilities but we are in contact with other Departments with responsibilities in this area and will be in contact with the relevant stakeholders as quickly as possible.