Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what measures are being taken to identify primary schools for after-school childcare services; the up-to-date position on review of the guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7856/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The programme for Government commits to ‘expand the provision of after-school and childcare in school buildings and campuses, in tandem with the school building programme, to provide better access for parents and communities.

My Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including the provision of early learning and childcare services.

The use of school property and sports facilities by the local community can support the social fabric of community life and help to serve the need for new community facilities in areas where there has been a strong rollout of residential developments.

The use of school facilities also supports an active and healthy lifestyle for communities in line with the Healthy Ireland policy.

The process of reviewing the 2017 “Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours” was completed in early 2024 and the revised “Procedures on the use of School Property and School Sports Facilities outside of School Hours” was published in June 2024.

The procedures are available for each school to refer to for guidance.

As part of the follow on from the launch of the new procedures, schools provided data to my Department in relation to usage of facilities outside of school hours. The initial assessment of this data is that it indicates a strong level of usage. This data will be further analysed and verified before being published in due course.