The scope for wider use to be made of school buildings is a matter for the Department of Education and the various patrons that govern schools across the country. The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including ELC and SAC.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education in consultation with representatives of schools published guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours in 2017. These Guidelines are clear that the issue is a matter for the property owners taking into consideration the needs of the school, staff and students. The Guidelines also require that any licence should include a term that the use of facility/portion of site covered by the licence must cease should it be required for school provision.
In line with commitments in First 5, the Department of Education conducted a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school buildings to facilitate after-school care/ clubs in 2023. The results of this survey were used to inform Revised Procedures on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours, which I understand are close to completion.
