Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
514. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will bring swimming lessons and driving lessons into second level education in (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16938/23]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been involved for a number of years in providing a comprehensive integrated road safety education programme in pre-school, primary, post-primary, third level and in the community. This has been done in partnership with many organisations including the Department of Education, An Garda Síochána, the Health & Safety Authority and the Higher Education Authority. As part of this, the RSA has developed a range of material that teachers can use to educate school children about road safety as it applies to all road users – pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and motorists. The resources are tailored to each user group. These are available on their website Road safety education for secondary school students (rsa.ie). In addition, while at post-primary level there are no plans to introduce mandatory driver education classes, basic tuition to lay a foundation in driver education is featured on many school curricula already.
In relation to 16-18 year olds, there are opportunities built into the programmes for students to engage with the content of the driver theory test. For example, the 'Your road to safety' Transition Year programme, consists of a 45-hour version and a 20-hour fast-track option. The programme provides important educational material and learning on road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists. It covers such issues as seatbelts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink/drug driving, road-safety engineering and enforcement, basic first aid at road crashes, emergency services and rehabilitation, licensing and insurance issues, the NCT, purchasing a car and driving abroad. The programme does not include driving lessons. However, relevant driver theory test content is included at the end of each module.
At Junior Cycle a new Physical Education specification designed for 135 hours engagement over the three years of Junior Cycle has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and is to be rolled out in schools in September 2023. The course offers a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it. Aquatics is one of the physical activities included in the specification, which are the instrumental medium for students to achieve learning outcomes. One of these outcomes is that students should be able to: “Demonstrate an understanding of personal survival and water safety considerations”. It is worth noting that other short courses can also be developed by schools themselves or by other bodies, using a template provided by the NCCA. It is therefore open to a school or other body to develop a targeted short course in Aquatics for use in schools.
In the Leaving Certificate Physical Education specification, learners’ physically active participation is central to teaching and learning. To enable this to happen, students learn about the different theoretical perspectives through their participation in three different physical activities. These activities are selected from six distinct physical activity areas which reflect the activities more commonly included in school physical education programmes currently. In the Physical Activity area, Aquatics students learn about water-based activities that utilise swimming and/or diving skills and techniques for performance water safety, or recreational purposes. Learners may choose one of the following activities Lifesaving, survival swimming, swimming strokes, water-polo, synchronised swimming.
The Physical Education curricula at both primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it. However, it is recognised that the particular context of the school, the physical education programme it can facilitate and the level of community facilities will have a bearing on the level of choice that can be managed. The physical education teacher, in consultation with the learners, will agree the range of activities that can be accommodated and supported for Physical Education. In relation to physical education facilities, many schools have PE halls and practically all schools have outdoor play areas. In addition, many schools, use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Access to these facilities is arranged directly by schools and the Department is not involved in these arrangements.
