Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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623.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a list of all second-level education institutions aided by her Department, that participated in Basketball Ireland’s post-primary schools league basketball in 2023-2024, in tabular form.[35049/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The requested information is not held by my Department. The sporting organisation in question appears to run a number of competitions for post primary teams and may be best placed to provide the list of partaking schools. A list of all recognised post primary schools in the country is available on my department's website on www.gov.ie.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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624.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details, for all second-level education institutions aided by her Department, showing for each school the quantity (number) and total land area (in hectares) of grass pitches owned, in tabular form.[35050/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have the information requested by the deputy available in relation to total land area for grass pitches for each secondary school aided by the Department. The majority of school properties are not in Minister-ownership.

My Department can confirm that the Programme for Government commits to high quality Physical Education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The appointment of Thomas Byrne TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education reflects this commitment. My department also continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to curricular developments.

The new Primary Curriculum Framework was published in March 2023. As part of the Primary Curriculum Framework will involve the development of the wellbeing framework which included a PE specification. A new Junior Cycle PE specification was introduced for first year students in all post-primary schools from September 2023. Schools are required to provide a minimum of 135 hours of Physical Education for all Junior Cycle students.

Outdoor learning experiences relating to the curriculum such as Athletics, Invasion Games and Adventure Activities, can take place outdoors on tarmac. My department is conducting a review of current tarmacadam specification and is involving a number of schools in a trial of the use of polymeric and astro-turf surfaces. In addition, my department has published a comprehensive list of PE equipment which is required to deliver the curricula. The PE equipment on this list is provided to all new schools, major projects and refurbishments. Funding for PE equipment from this list is available to all schools to replace or update equipment, where required. Health-related activity, Dance and Gymnastics are key physical activity areas that require indoor space for effective learning experiences.

My department provides GP rooms and PE halls with the construction of all new primary and post primary schools, respectively. These facilities may also be provided where a large-scale building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. 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 300m² secure 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. Individual schools manage their facilities and access to adjacent facilities in response to their particular needs and circumstances.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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625.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application from a school [details supplied] for the School Photovoltaic Programme and to provide a timeline for the processing of the same.[35054/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme launched in November 2023 to over 1600 schools.

It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, my Department has had a very positive response to the scheme, with over 1500 schools engaging with the programme through our School Hub.

Funding approval has been provided to more than 1,100 schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels are being installed on school roofs around the country.

This has been a really positive response in terms of applications for solar panels from schools. It offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and to reduce their energy costs.

As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, it is expected that the visibility of the solar panels on schools will also deliver the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community.

Given the high volume of schools involved, we are endeavouring to review each application and address and respond to queries in the earliest possible time.

The Schools PV Programme team will be in contact directly with Griffith Barracks Multi Denominational NS shortly to discuss next steps.