Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2012
111. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is concerned about a lack of resources for the teaching of physical education in primary and secondary schools in disadvantaged areas. [53638/12]
View answerMy Department is committed to the provision, maintenance and modernisation of physical education and physical activity facilities in our schools for our children and young people.
In a new school building or major refurbishment/extension, PE facilities are included as an intrinsic part of the design.
While my Department currently has no specific grant schemes in place to provide funding for the purchase of gym equipment, primary schools received €2,000 each in PE equipment grants in 2006, at a total cost of €6.5 million. A similar grant of €4,000 per school, at an overall cost of around €3 million, issued to post-primary schools in 2007. In 2010 grant aid in excess of €16m issued to both primary and post-primary schools to allow each school address its own specific PE and outdoor equipment needs.
