Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will oversee the introduction of new guidelines to develop new school playground guidelines and an analysis of spaces and funds for outdoor school areas which provide an appropriate opportunity to address the different needs of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52050/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the majority of schools have a general purpose room / Physical Education hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

Investment and expenditure on sports facilities is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of outdoor play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. In addition, my Department provides funding toward the provision of furniture and equipment including PE equipment in both primary and post-primary schools.

In relation to post-primary schools, where my Department provides a sports hall as part of a building project, the equipment provided forms part of the overall furniture and equipment grant to that school.

In addition, my Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school. The play space also includes specific provision designed to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with Special Education Needs classes is provided with 3 ball courts (1,755m² in total), 2 junior play areas (600m² in total), as well as Secure hard and soft play area (300m²) and a 100m² Sensory Garden. In respect of new post-primary schools, a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school will be provided with 6 ball courts (3,060m² in total) and a 200m² secure hard and soft special education play area. At post primary level, an area may be developed as a practice playing field where site conditions and resources permit.

Outside of school building projects, the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards included a category for External environment projects, which included playgrounds. Primary schools can also use their Minor Works Grant to fund playground improvements.

The available outdoor area at existing schools varies significantly across the circa 4,000 schools, with each school sitting in its own local context: some in highly urban areas, some in rural locations. Some schools will have large sites, others will be constrained, and there are variances in the level of access to adjacent facilities. The needs and interests of each school's student cohort can also vary. In that context, each school is best placed to consider their own specific circumstances as part of any playground upgrade works.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she recognises that a problem exists with schools installing sensory playground equipment, given that schools are afraid of litigation and children with sensory needs are losing out as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52051/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The installation of sensory play equipment is site and project specific, often funded directly by schools and selected based on the individual school requirements. Where play equipment is installed as part of a building project the school will be assisted by the appointed design team. Appropriate provision for external play will be provided within school site constraints and this is set out in the Planning & Design Guidelines for Primary & Post Primary School Specialist Accommodation for Pupils with Special Educational Needs (copy attached – TGD 026). Sensory play areas can be divided into hard and soft play sections. Where specialist play equipment is provided, the Design Team will consult with the school authority at the outset regarding the range and type of equipment to be provided. Adequate provision must be allowed for the fixing of equipment into the hard and soft surfacing as part of the construction stage and for the play equipment to be fitted into sockets etc., once construction is complete. This is a matter for co-ordination to be overseen by the lead consultant on the project.