Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that total grant aid of €1,040,000 was provided to a college (details supplied) for the construction of a gym and sports hall; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the additional funding for the gym equipment was provided by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the RAPID funding was specifically provided due to the fact a special case was made highlighting the fact that the gym and sports hall would be made available to persons living in adjacent areas which were designated as disadvantaged under the CLÁR and RAPID programmes; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport entered into a deed of covenant which requires that the gym and sports hall would be kept in sports use until at least 2023; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the gym was closed down by the college management on 28 April 2017; if he has received a proposal to have the gym area used as classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22885/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo municipal district of Sligo County Council at its meeting on 24 April 2017 unanimously adopted a motion (details supplied); if his Department has been contacted by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in this regard; if the gym area in the college will continue to be used for sports use and not for other educational purposes until at least 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22886/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the matters raised are appropriate to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport which provided funding for the establishment of the gym and sports hall concerned.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school referred to for the provision of additional accommodation and, in that regard, my Department is not aware of any proposal by the school to use the gym area as classrooms.

It is open to the school to submit an application to my Department if they have identified a deficit of accommodation; application forms can be accessed on my Department's website www.education.ie.