Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are restrictions and regulations on private for-profit companies operating in schools; if so, if he will provide these restrictions and regulations and any decision-making process attached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5112/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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With respect to the enquiry concerning restrictions and regulations on private for-profit companies operating in schools there is guidance concerning the usage of school buildings for non-educational use. These Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours were published in October 2017 and are available on the Department's website.

By way of background, the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and having regard to the needs of the school, staff and students.

My Department's policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and after school activities. The publication of the Guidelines followed a Programme for Government commitment, for the utilisation of primary school buildings for after-school care provision for school age children to offer more options and flexibility to parents, where there is demand for such a service, in partnership with community groups or private providers.

My Department is now undertaking a review of these Guidelines. As part of this review process my Department will consult with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of schools and other Government Departments which engage with the community and voluntary sectors. As part of this review my Department intends to conduct a survey of a sample of schools to measure the usage of school facilities out side of school hours by local community and recreational groups. Work on this survey will commence over the coming weeks.

The type of information that will be sought in the survey will include the current use of schools outside of school hours, the types of activities being catered for, whether formal arrangements are in place and if there are charges associated with the use of the facilities.

The information provided from these engagements will further inform any additional measures that can be introduced either by my Department or in conjunction with other Departments to assist schools in making their facilities available outside of school hours.