AQW 42679/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 41470/22-27, to detail the minimum outdoor play area requirements in square metres, that primary schools are expected to provide, including the minimum areas for (i) hard play space; (ii) informal grass play space; and (iii) any other outdoor learning or play areas as defined in Appendix 2 of the Primary Schools Building Handbook (Edition 3, 2020), given that these figures do not appear in the main body of the Handbook and are essential for assessing compliance and for planning school facilities.
Asked by Eóin Tennyson MLA on 18 March 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 March 2026
- Answer due by
- 2 April 2026
- Answered
- 25 March 20267 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The minimum areas for hard play space, informal grass play space and site size are detailed in Appendix 2 of the Primary Schools’ Building Handbook, which is available for reference on the Department’s website.
The table below provides information regarding the recommended play areas for primary shools.
| Enrolment Number Category | Class Rooms | Hard Play m2 | Informal Grass Play m2 | Recommended Minimum Site Area (Hectares) |
| 91-120 | 4 | 650 | 3,000 | 0.63 |
| 121-150 | 5 | 800 | 3,000 | 0.67 |
| 151-180 | 6 | 930 | 5.000 | 0.95 |
| 181-210 | 7 | 1.100 | 5.000 | 1.00 |
| 211-240 | 8 | 1.250 | 5,000 | 1.04 |
| 241-270 | 9 | 1.400 | 5.000 | 1.08 |
| 271-300 | 10 | 1.550 | 5.000 | 1.11 |
| 301-330 | 11 | 1.700 | 7.000 | 1.38 |
| 331-360 | 12 | 1.850 | 7.000 | 1.43 |
| 361-390 | 13 | 2.000 | 7.000 | 1.47 |
| 391-420 | 14 | 2.150 | 7.000 | 1.51 |
| 421-450 | 15 | 2.300 | 7.000 | 1.55 |
| 451-480 | 16 | 2.450 | 7.000 | 1.59 |
| 481-510 | 17 | 2.600 | 7.000 | 1.62 |
| 511-540 | 18 | 2.750 | 7.000 | 1.66 |
| 541-570 | 19 | 2.900 | 10,000 | 1.99 |
| 571-600 | 20 | 3.050 | 10,000 | 2.03 |
| 601-630 | 21 | 3.200 | 10,000 | 2.08 |
| 631-660 | 22 | 3.350 | 10,000 | 2.12 |
| 661-690 | 23 | 3.500 | 10,000 | 2.16 |
| 691-720 | 24 | 3.650 | 10,000 | 2.21 |
| 721-750 | 25 | 3.800 | 10,000 | 2.25 |
| 751-780 | 26 | 3.950 | 10,000 | 2.29 |
| 781-810 | 27 | 4.100 | 10,000 | 2.34 |
| 811-840 | 28 | 4.250 | 10,000 | 2.38 |