Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his current policy on the inclusion of canteen facilities in the design of new primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13908/11]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools, primary and post-primary, built since 2006 which have included canteen facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13909/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.

My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Departments web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new Primary and Post Primary schools. These facilities are not intended to be full commercial type canteens where food is prepared or cooked.

In new Primary schools a servery of 8.0m2 in area is provided. The servery is equipped with standard kitchen work top and low level units, a sink, hot water boiler and provision for a dishwasher, fridge, and dryer. The servery area is located off the General Purposes Room which can be used for dining. At post primary level a kitchenette, 25.0m2 in area is provided off the General Purpose/Dining Area. It is equipped, as standard, with a cooker, a water boiler, fridge, dishwasher and sink. In general, while the facilities outlined above are not intended to constitute full commercial type canteen facilities, these would have been included in the majority of new schools completed since 2006.