John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the schools which have provided facilities (details supplied) to achieve the objective of increased use of school buildings since the publication of the plan in summer 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The management of school premises at local level is a matter for the relevant school authorities. Any decision to make school premises available ultimately lies with the relevant Trustees/Property owners following a recommendation from the school authorities. However, as schools are often the centre of sustainable communities there can be mutual benefits in building links with the local community. It is recognised that schools play an important role in their wider communities and many schools make their facilities available outside of school hours for a variety of different uses and users.

As the decision as to use of school premises outside of school hours is taken locally the information sought by the Deputy is not available to my Department.

My Department following consultation with the relevant school authorities, in October 2017 published Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours. These guidelines can be viewed on my Department's website at this link:.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for schools in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours and for those schools who are considering putting such arrangements in place.