Use sports halls as classrooms, says Dempsey

OVERCROWDED primary schools in need of extra classrooms are being told by the Department of Education to use their physical education halls, depriving children of exercise facilities.

Not even schools in disadvantaged areas, where there are no other recreational facilities for children, are guaranteed to get funding required to rent a prefab and are being told to use their PE halls or general purpose rooms as classrooms.

Despite Government concerns about childhood obesity and lack of exercise, yesterday Education Minister Noel Dempsey said he was aware of the classroom situation, but said the money was not available to meet all the demands.