Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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798. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary schools currently using their gym facilities to accommodate students given Covid-19 social distancing; and the number of post-primary schools that are providing physical education as a leaving certificate subject of the schools that are doing so. [31615/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department published the Roadmap for Full Return to Schoolon July 27 2020, enabling schools to safely open, and remain open, from the end of August 2020. The importance and significance of ensuring schools safely opened, and remain safely open, is a national priority for Government.

As set out in the Roadmap, the implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan by a school is the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 and demonstrate that they are operating in accordance with the requirements of the Roadmap and public health advice.

It was acknowledged the Roadmap, that the full implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plan by a school may necessitate some reconfiguration works within a school. Given that each school setting is different, my Department determined that individual schools were best placed to decide on the appropriate re-configuration works for their school.

My Department provided a total of €160m Minor Works Grant funding to Primary and Post-Primary Schools during 2020. (€90m at Primary level and €70m at Post Primary level) to provide flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage in the Covid environment and to put sustainable arrangements in place to support the operation of their school through reconfiguration of classroom space, re-purposing rooms to provide additional space, adapting storage facilities, purchasing furniture, altering desk layouts etc.

As funding was allocated on a devolved basis, my Department has not collected data on the number of post-primary schools using their Sports Halls as classrooms to accommodate students as a result of Covid-19.