asked the Minister for Education if he will consider making funds available for the provision of swimming facilities for primary school children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Swimming Pools.
99.
Mr. R. Burke
Present demands on funds available to me for the building, extension, improvement and equipping of national schools are such that I cannot, at the present time, consider making funds available to provide swimming facilities for primary school children.
Is the Minister aware that our children in general are very severely handicapped in this respect because they do not even know how to go into the water and, when I mention facilities, I have more than just providing swimming pools in mind. They have not even the facility of having a coach or somebody to train them. Would the Minister have a look at this with the intention of doing something about it?
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy is probably more aware than I am of the fact that primary school swimming is part of the PE curriculum, but there is not much point in having a PE curriculum if you have not got the swimming pools.
In areas in which there are swimming pools and, at the same time, school buses lying idle, would the Minister consider using the buses to transport children to swimming pools?
Mr. R. Burke
That is a useful suggestion. I will have it considered.
Would the Minister subsidise travel? I have in mind schools which are 20 miles from the nearest swimming pool?
Mr. R. Burke
The question of a subsidy after school hours is a larger question and it is one I would need to have considered specifically.