Updated procedure on use of school buildings and sports facilities outside of school hours

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, and Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, visited Scoil Chaitlín Maude in Killinarden last week.

They went to the school last Wednesday, June 10, to announce updated procedures on the use of school buildings and school sports facilities outside of school hours.

The updated procedures have been developed following engagement with stakeholders in the education sector and relevant government departments. The procedures replace the ‘Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours’, which were issued in October 2017.

The updated procedures clarify the steps necessary to establish a crèche or pre-school within an existing building or on the grounds of a school.

It notes that the primary purpose of schools is to provide education, but the use of available school property for childcare is supported if “it does not interfere with the day-to-day running of the school”.

The new procedures have built upon the previous guidelines and emphasise certain requirements including the need for legal arrangements to be put in place and insurance.

It is also stipulated that the proposed out-of-school hours activities should not affect the future development of the school.

Speaking at the announcement of the updated procedures, Minister Foley said: “Many schools are already making their wonderful facilities available outside of school hours for the benefit of local communities.

“We want to encourage the use of our school buildings right throughout the week and the calendar year.”

Minister Byrne added: “I strongly welcome the publication of these updated procedures and encourage their use within schools and local communities.

“As a government, we are working to promote lifelong participation in sport and physical activity and maximising the use of school sports facilities, outside of school hours, is one such way of achieving this aim.

“School sports facilities are a very important resource and maximising their use outside of school life adds greatly to the sustainability of local communities.”