Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
587. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Education to ensure that use of publicly funded school buildings is considered and maximised with respect to provision of pre-school, sibling hour and afterschool facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19319/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to increase the range of after-school services in schools or community hubs to offer a range of education and family-focused measures. Currently, approximately, 15% of all ELC and SAC services are located in schools.
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 not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
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.
