asked the Minister for Education the extent of physical fitness facilities which obtain in Irish education at primary and secondary school levels; and the number of teachers in primary and secondary education who are qualified to teach physical education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Physical Education in Schools.
50.
Grants are available from my Department for playground and gymnasium equipment for national schools. Under the scheme of capital grants towards the cost of providing new secondary schools or extensions to existing schools assistance is available for the provision of accommodation for physical education in these schools. Gymnasia suitably equipped for physical education are available at the vocational schools in the county boroughs and a number of the larger urban centres. With the development of larger school units throughout the country, it will be possible to provide this facility at a growing number of centres and it is the policy of my Department to do so.
The teaching of physical education forms part of the training course of all trained primary teachers. There are 43 secondary teachers who are registered on the basis of a specialist qualification in physical education. A further 88 secondary teachers have attended Summer courses in the teaching of the subject, and, in addition, there are many teachers employed on a part-time basis. In the vocational school service, there are at present 28 whole-time teachers and 39 part-time teachers of physical education.