Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the size or intake a school needs to attain if it is to be considered for the addition of a general purpose room; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24001/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. Other P.E. facilities, e.g. pitches are provided, where appropriate, and in the context of available resources, as part of the Department's school building programme.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. Priority is currently being given to applications for essential mainstream classroom accommodation in areas of significant demographic growth and where additional teaching staff have been allocated. This will continue to be the main focus for investment by my Department in the coming years. Accordingly whilst my Department will continue to provide additional and improved classroom accommodation in our schools, it is not currently in a position within available funding to consider applications from schools for the addition of a general purpose room.