Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
269. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Education what her plans are to support post-primary schools in delivering the physical education curriculum, in particular those schools which have no access to their own indoor sports facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55842/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to high quality Physical Education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The appointment of Thomas Byrne TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education reflects this commitment. My department also continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to curricular developments.
The new Primary Curriculum Framework was published in March this year. As part of the Primary Curriculum Framework will involve the development of the wellbeing framework which included a PE specification. A new Junior Cycle PE specification was introduced for first year students in all post-primary schools from September 2023. Schools are required to provide a minimum of 135 hours of Physical Education for all Junior Cycle students. There are two options for PE at Senior Cycle – Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE), which is an examinable subject and the Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) framework which is non- examinable. Introduced on a phased basis in 2018 to 64 schools, LCPE is now being offered by 404 schools around the country. The Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) non-examination framework provides a flexible planning tool for physical education for all students in senior cycle. Oide, the new Integrated Teacher Education Support Service, was launched on the 1st of September 2023. It promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of Teacher Professional Learning and support for our physical education teachers.
Outdoor learning experiences relating to the curriculum such as Athletics, Invasion Games and Adventure Activities, can take place outdoors on tarmac. The department is conducting a review of current tarmacadam specification and is involving a number of schools in a trial of the use of polymeric and astro-turf surfaces. In addition, my department has published a comprehensive list of PE equipment which is required to deliver the curricula. The PE equipment on this list is provided to all new schools, major projects and refurbishments. Funding for PE equipment from this list is available to all schools to replace or update equipment, where required. Health-related activity, Dance and Gymnastics are key physical activity areas that require indoor space for effective learning experiences.
The department provides GP rooms and PE halls with the construction of all new primary and post primary schools, respectively. These facilities may also be provided where a large-scale building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. During the period 2018 to 2022, such large-scale school building projects delivered 31 PE Halls and 56 GP Rooms.
I recognise the limitations that a lack of indoor PE facilities places on the delivery of the PE curricula. However, it is important to note that almost 95% of the post primary schools, and over 70% of the primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 690 school building projects, and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. There are also 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to deliver a PE build and modernisation programme, so that more schools have indoor facilities for PE and local communities have access and extra amenities available to them.
However, the main focus of the department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
The department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will be engaging with departments on NDP allocations for the period 2026 to 2028 over the coming months, with allocation decisions expected during the first half of 2024.
