Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements put in place by him to facilitate community use or use by non-commercial voluntary organisations of schools built under public private partnership arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37066/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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One of the stated objectives for the Department's involvement in the Government's Pilot PPP Programme is foster usage of school buildings outside of school hours. The PPP programme endeavours to achieve this in two ways.

Firstly, and most importantly, by providing each of the schools with a bank of 350 hours usage outside of the normal school day (8.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday). This is done in recognition of schools existing commitments to community usage, including adult education and school sport activities, extra curricular activities undertaken by the schools and additional school usage including Parents nights and home school liaison. There is scope within these parameters to facilitate local arrangements with voluntary organisation.

Secondly, the Project Agreement provides that the PPP Operator may use the facilities in the schools to generate income, such income to be shared with the schools. However, this can only be done outside normal school hours and outside the 350 bank hours and in agreement with the schools' authorities.