Vol. 571 No. 1
669 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 10 April 2003, if the support team responsible for the delivery of the necessary inservice to physical education teachers nationally has been established; the membership of this team and its remit; the funding available to enable this team to carry out its remit; his further plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/03]
As indicated in the parliamentary question referred to by the Deputy, the junior cycle (non-examination) syllabus for physical education is being introduced, on a phased basis, starting in the current school year. About 100 schools have applied to take part and an inservice support team has been recruited and appointed. The in-service support team comprises, for this phase, a national co-ordinator and two regional development officers. The new service has its headquarters in Mayo Education Centre and, assisted by the director of the centre, members of my Department's inspectorate and the NCCA, the team is preparing a detailed inservice plan. This will be ready shortly. It will contain cost information and it is expected that this will enable a budget for the rest of 2003 to be set and a provisional allocation for 2004 to be made.
670 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that his plan to introduce physical education exam based syllabus at leaving certificate level to schools on a pilot basis from September 2005 is progressing satisfactorily; the schools where this syllabus is to be introduced on a pilot basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/03]
The timescale for implementing future curricular reform at leaving certificate level will be examined in the context of emerging developments in relation to the review of the senior cycle.
