Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the updated guidelines/procedures on the use of school buildings outside of school hours will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19704/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes where feasible.

My Department first published the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours in October 2017. The purpose of these guidelines was to provide guidance to schools in relation to their current arrangements for the use of school buildings outside of school hours. The Guidelines outlined the various scenarios and informed where consent of the Department of Education was required.

The process of reviewing the 2017 Guidelines for the Use of School Buildings outside of School Hours is now nearly complete.

Part of the review included a school survey. The survey was issued to patron bodies of a sample of selected primary and post-primary schools for distribution. The survey invited schools to share their views on topics including: whether and how their school facilities are currently used by organisations other than the school, future plans for the use of school buildings and any current barriers encountered regarding the use of school buildings after hours. The responses to the survey were returned and analysed and informed the review. Following the survey, further engagement took place with the stakeholders, patron bodies and other government Departments on the new Procedures (as the Guidelines are now called).

It is expected that the Procedures will be published very shortly and all schools will be notified of the changes.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any consultation has taken place with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Youth regarding the updating of guidelines/procedures on the use of school buildings outside of school hours, noting the challenges being faced by afterschool services in securing sustainable use of school buildings to accommodate afterschool services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19705/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes where feasible. However, the decision on the use of school property is a matter for the property owner taking into considerations the requirements of the school, students and staff.

The Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours were published in October 2017.

The process of reviewing these 2017 Guidelines (or Procedures as they are now called) is now near completion.

During the review process engagement took place with stakeholders, including other relevant government Departments on the Procedures, and would have referenced afterschool services and related matters. This included the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth.

It is expected that the new Procedures will be published very shortly.