Records show the department estimates it would cost about €450 million to provide or upgrade PE halls across secondary schools. It estimates the provision or upgrade of “general purpose rooms” in primary schools would cost another €360 million. It is due to be made available across all secondary schools which want to take up the subject from about 2020 onwards. PriorityA spokeswoman for the Department of Education said its priority in the near-term is to generate up to 20,000 additional school places which are necessary. However, she said new funding under the National Development Plan would provide “in the medium term for an additional focus on the PE facilities in post- primary schools”.

Source: The Irish Times March 27, 2018 00:00 UTC