Vol. 481 No. 6
73 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on a recent report by the European Physical Education Association that Irish school children of all ages do less physical education than children in 25 other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16607/97]
The data collected for the report on physical education in 25 European countries by the European Physical Education Association were provided by the national physical education associations in these countries.
The data for the different countries are difficult to compare because of varying interpretations of what constitutes physical education in schools. In a number of European countries physical education and sport education are synonymous. The data supplied for Ireland excluded time allocated to sport-games in our schools which can be significant in many cases.
The primary school curriculum provides for a physical education programme which includes health education. My Department recommends that schools devote a minimum of one hour per week to this aspect of the curriculum. This time allocation does not include the very considerable level of games and athletics activities which are organised by school staffs for the children outside the official hours of instruction.
In the "Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools" issued by my Department, a minimum of two hours per week is recommended for the physical education programme in second level schools. I am aware of the need for an appropriate initiative to improve the physical education programme in our post-primary schools. I will be establishing a major pilot project which will seek to address issues relating to current practices in physical education at second level.
