Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2006
89 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will introduce a grant to assist schools with the cost of taking children to public swimming pools as part of the physical education curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40157/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra144 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of time allocated to physical education for each child at primary level per day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40234/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra151 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of time allocated to physical education for each student at post-primary level per day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40235/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 144 and 151 together.
Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum (1999). A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.
In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.
Physical education is an integral part of the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme. All LCA students must take two modules — Leisure Studies and Health Related Fitness — and there are four additional modules from which they can make further choices.
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.
Apart from the formal curricula, schools can take a range of measures to encourage physical activity among students during the school day and many provide extensive, broad-based programmes of co-curricular physical activities that are highly rewarding for both pupils and teachers alike. In particular, schools play a major role in nurturing and promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland provide extensive opportunities for such participation.
I have no plans to introduce a specific grant for swimming classes. Where schools decide to provide pupils with swimming classes in school time, they are expected to fund them from resources already available to them. In this regard, I recently announced that the capitation grant for primary and second level schools will be increased by €18 per pupil next year. My Department will also be issuing a special PE equipment grant of €2,000 per school in the coming weeks, as a once-off measure, to all 3,200 primary schools to enable them improve their PE facilities.
