Vol. 404 No. 5
82 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the support given by herself and the Minister of State at her Department to the Irish team competing in the World Cup in Italy 1990, she has any plans to encourage the playing of soccer at primary school level so as to assist in the flow of young players and ensure Irish participation at future World Cup finals.
Physical education forms part of the primary school curriculum, and while my Department set out broad guidelines on the various components of the programme, it is the responsibility of the principal teacher, in consultation with school staff to outline a plan of work for the school.
Under my Department's grant-in-aid scheme, funding is provided each year to 73 recognised national governing bodies of sport. In the case of soccer, a total of £109,500 was given to the Football Association of Ireland in 1990, which included a sum of £10,000 for the Football Association of Irish Schools to facilitate the employment of a development officer.
