I thank Deputy Quill for raising this matter. The delay in notifying schools of this day is not the fault of the Department, and I will deal with that matter in due course. I am somewhat disappointed that Members who stand up to talk about sport immediately talk about money. It is a contradiction to combine the two matters.
The Sport for All Day in primary schools has been in existence since 1986. The purpose of the Sport for All Day is to enable teachers, parents and boards of management to devote one day in the school year to increasing children's awareness of the value of sport at an early age, thus encouraging active participation throughout their lives. This is in addition to the normal physical education programme in schools. Emphasis during this day is on participation rather than on competition. In some ways this day complements the Sport for All, Be Active, Be Alive Month, which is held under the Department each year and which has been a success. In general, these Sports for All days have been very successful and I thank the teachers, parents and the boards of management for their interest in and commitment to the promotion.
For 1993 a meeting of the organising committee, under the chairmanship of the chairman of Cospóir, the National Sports Council, was held on 30 March 1993 at which the arrangements for the 1993 Sport for All Day were to be agreed. This meeting was attended by a representative of the INTO. Unfortunately, due to disagreement over funding for the project agreement could not be reached regarding the 1993 Sport for All Day.
Officials of my Department held a further meeting with the INTO representative on 17 May 1993 at which the plans for the 1993 Sport for All Day were discussed. I wrote to the INTO representative on 20 May 1993 on the following basis: 1. It was proposed to hold the 1993 Sport for All Day on 2 June and a copy of the circular it was proposed to issue to all schools was enclosed. As confirmation that this date was suitable was not received to enable the circulars to issue to the schools in advance of the day I decided that 17 June would be a more suitable date; 2. I was prepared to visit a school or a number of schools in the course of the day. I indicated that I would arrange for my Department to undertake a research project, in the autumn, on the 1993 Sport for All Day in national schools with a view to ascertaining the effectiveness of the day in schools which would assist in the planning of future Sport for All Days.
I indicated that I was also prepared to commence on the preparation of resource material which could be used by national school teachers in the 1994 Sport for All Day.
It was envisaged that an expenditure of up to £15,000 would be made on the project in 1993, comprising £7,500 from my Department and a further £7,500 which the European Commission has very generously offered to this project. I indicated also that I was prepared to meet with the INTO to discuss the future of the Sport for All Day in primary schools. Perhaps that information was not available to the Deputy.
A reply was received from the INTO representative on 25 May 1993 in which it was stated that the INTO was flexible with regard to the date for the 1993 Sport for All Day and requested an immediate meeting with me. I responded on 10 June 1993 stating that due to my already heavy schedule of commitments in the forthcoming weeks I would be unable to have the meeting immediately but I undertook to meet the INTO as soon as possible. As I was anxious that the 1993 Sport for All Day would take place prior to the summer holiday break, as has been the position since the introduction of the day in 1986, and in view of the fact that the INTO representative on the organising committee confirmed in his letter that it was flexible with regard to the date it was decided that the 1993 Sport for All Day would take place on Thursday 17 June.
As is customary with the Sport for All Day, while a particular day is nominated by the Department there is flexibility in that should the date prove inconvenient for local arrangements, a suitable date either in the preceding or the following week may be selected as an alternative. The Deputy will appreciate that there are reasons for that. For instance, there may be days off from schools for summer tours and so on. Accordingly, the circular advising the date of the event was issued to the schools by my Department on 8 June 1993. The provision of specific funding for this project on an annual basis has not been a regular feature. Indeed, the success of the day has more to do with the commitment and enthusiasm of the teachers than with any financial incentive related to the event. However, over the years there have been a number of once-off initiatives such as the publication of the Sport for All Day in Primary Schools booklet in 1984, an additional publication in 1985, an incentive scheme in 1987, funding of £100 per school for a small number of pilot projects in 1989 and the latest in 1990 and 1991, when grants totalling £155,000 were allocated to all one, two and three teacher schools. The proposals which I have outlined in my letter of 20 May, 1993 are a further commitment to the expenditure of further moneys on the project.
I am unhappy that this promotion, which has been a successful for the past number of years, should now be the cause of some controversy, fuelled by the issuing of a press release on 14 June last which contained many inaccuracies wrapped up in emotive language. I regret that this attitude jeopardises the success of the Sport for All Day. If it is the view that the day should be cancelled there is little that I as Minister can do, other than accept the position. Without the fullest co-operation of the teachers this event cannot be organised successfully. I would urge that greater sense would prevail. We should put our heads together on the Sport for All Day for next year. I mentioned the Be Active, Be Alive promotion in May. If people are prepared to sit down in a meaningful way we could bring the Sport for All Day into the schools. The whole purpose of the Be Active, Be Alive promotion is to encourage young people and adults to be involved in sport. My door is open and I will do my utmost to encourage participation.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 June 1993.
