Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she intends to begin the development of sports halls in existing schools in cases in which such schools have no indoor sports facilities or very limited facilities. [17656/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.

However, the latter part of the National Development Plan will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision. The ancillary accommodation needs of primary schools, such as General Purpose rooms will also be considered in this context.