Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to make the facilities, such as multipurpose halls, playing pitches, basketball courts and so on, of those primary and post-primary schools, owned by his Department, available for community use during school holidays. [20997/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a general policy of encouraging the use of school facilities by community and other groups where this is possible and where appropriate arrangements are made to reimburse the school for any additional expenditure incurred by the school associated with such usage (heating, lighting, caretaking, insurance, etc). However, any proposal for the use of school facilities outside of normal schools hours must be approved by the local school management authorities in the first instance.

In 2005, my Department issued a circular letter to all school authorities urging them to make their facilities available, where possible, for community and recreation purposes.