Richard Bruton
Question:31 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students enrolled in primary schools; and the amount of money provided to primary schools for physical education. [2839/02]
Written Answers. - Primary Education.
Final figures for enrolments in primary schools in respect of the 2001-02 school year are not yet available. Total pupil enrolments in primary schools in the school year 2000-01 came to 439,570.
In the context of broader support for PE, the primary schools' sports initiative is an important development. I launched this initiative in January 2001. It is concerned with the promotion of physical education, sport and healthy lifestyles in primary schools. It is being developed in the context of the physical education and social, personal and health education elements of the revised primary curriculum. A task force was appointed to implement the initiative and is being supported by a national co-ordinator and two assistant co-ordinators. Under the initiative, a pilot project has been put in place, which will inform the national in-career support programme for PE, which is scheduled to commence in September 2003.
Furthermore, I introduced an annual physical education grant for all primary schools in 2000. Under the terms of this grant all schools designated as disadvantaged and schools in the rural phase of the Breaking the Cycle scheme receive an annual grant of €1,269.74 or £1,000 per school while all other schools receive a grant of €634.87 or £500. Circular 28/00 that issued from my Department to all schools in October 2000 outlined specific materials or activities on which schools may spend this grant. It is anticipated that this year's grant will issue to schools in March. Last year's grant amounted to €2,359,173 or £1,858,000.