Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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598.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a summary of the findings from the survey conducted with schools in relation to the use of school buildings out of school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31026/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports and encourages the use of School Buildings and School Sports Facilities outside of School Hours for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including childcare and after school uses.

A set of revised procedures on the 'Use of School Buildings and School Sports Facilities outside of School Hours' were published in June 2024. The purpose of these procedures is to provide assistance to schools who wish to make their school buildings and school sports facilities available to community or sporting clubs or organisations outside of school hours. The procedures outline the various scenarios and informs where consent of the Department of Education is required.

The 2024 procedures replaced the 2017 'Guidelines on the Use of School Property'. The process of reviewing the 2017 Guidelines took place throughout 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. Part of the review included a sample survey to inform the updating of the existing guidelines. This sample survey was issued to a number of patron bodies of primary and post-primary schools for distribution. The survey invited the schools involved to share their views on topics including: whether and how their school facilities are currently used by organisations other than the school, future plans for the use of school buildings and any current barriers encountered regarding the use of school buildings after hours. The responses to the survey were returned and analysed and informed the review.

Over 200 replies were received from a combination of Primary and Post Primary schools.

A summary of the main findings are listed below:

• The survey showed that the majority of schools were aware of the existing 2017 Guidelines
• All parts of the Guidelines were considered relevant by schools with insurance, legal items and having suitable facilities to be made available featuring prominently
• At primary level, over 50% of schools surveyed had external organisations using their facilities and this rose to over 70% at post primary level. The main usages are for educational, recreational, community and sport activities.
• The main reasons why requests could not be facilitated by schools included capacity issues, insurance, staffing requirements and security.
• The school facilities that are used are being utilised throughout the week.
• The main barriers to the use of school facilities after school hours include security, staffing resources and insurance
• As regards future plans of schools for the use of school facilities outside of school hours these include community, sport and education purposes.