Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding opportunities for primary schools to provide new outdoor recreation facilities and upgrade existing outdoor spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35312/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, the department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.?Government support for this investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.? A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department.? This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn. As part of the NDP Review process, the department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030.? It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, allowing my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. While the provision of school places, including for children with special education needs, has been a priority for the department over recent years and this will continue to be the case, I recognise the importance of physical activity and recreational facilities for students.

Investment and expenditure on sports facilities in primary and post-primary schools is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas, and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Learning experiences relating to the curriculum such as Athletics, Invasion Games and Adventure Activities can take place outdoors on tarmac. 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.The current design guidance for new primary and post primary schools includes hard-surfaced play areas for both recreation and physical education activities. The guidance also includes for the provision of landscaped areas on school sites providing a variety of external informal and social areas to suit the learning development and cultural needs of pupils/students during breaks and before and after school, and for a range of more formal curriculum needs. In addition, the design guidance for accommodation for pupils with special educational needs includes the provision of external play areas with soft-surfacing and sensory gardens.

The Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Education and Youth recently announced details in respect of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme 2026 onwards. The purpose of this scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The scheme will operate on a multi-annual basis for a number of categories including external environment projects, which could include the provision or upgrade of outdoor play areas. Full details of the new scheme including the Circular and guidance documents for schools can be found on the department’s website. Schools can also use their minor works grant to upgrade outdoor play areas including basketball courts. Repairs to existing play areas may be considered under the department’s Emergency Works Scheme. The scheme is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered. In the case of outdoor play areas this usually only includes repairs to existing play areas but each application is assessed on its own merits.