Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2008
4 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of the recommendations of the 2005 task force on obesity which have been implemented to date in primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44583/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe subjects social, personal and health education, physical education and home economics at second level cover, among elements of the syllabus, the areas of healthy eating and the food pyramid, healthy lifestyle, physical health, body care, exercise, relaxation and diet. They are evaluated in schools by the inspectorate using indicators specific to primary and to second level schools as appropriate.
Schools in Ireland have a strong and proud tradition of developing sport outside of the school timetable. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport. Schools have worked on devising healthy lunches policies as part of social, personal and health education, SPHE, and physical education, PE.
The curriculum support services at primary and post-primary level have a number of activities in place to promote healthy living in schools and healthy eating policies. Planning templates to assist in school planning for the implementation of the PE curriculum and the wider aspects of physical activity and school sport are also available. In addition, extensive opportunities for professional development for teachers are provided in this area, including in SPHE, PE and home economics. The majority of schools currently participating in the school completion programme operate breakfast clubs or other meal provisions, in accordance with the nutritional guidelines issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
A special PE funding package of €6.5 million issued in 2006 to primary schools, and in 2007 a similar package of €3 million issued to post-primary schools. The Food Dudes programme is being rolled out on a national basis to all primary schools over a five-year period and my Department also promotes Sport for All Day, the Active School Awards and National Healthy Eating Week.
The task force recommended that all schools should provide for 30 minutes of physical exercise each day, restructuring the school day if necessary. While schools can encourage pupils to take physical exercise during breaks, the extension of the time available in the curriculum for PE is not feasible in terms of the range of curricular options which must be facilitated and the industrial relations and cost implications.
Schools are playing their part in the battle to tackle childhood obesity. However, it should be remembered that children only spend 20% of their time at school and that a healthy home environment is vital to ensuring they do not suffer from obesity. The State of the Nation's Children report launched in 2007 shows that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across the 32 WHO countries surveyed in being physically active for at least four hours per week.
The Minister mentioned facts a few moments ago in a reply to Deputy Hayes on another question. There were 22 recommendations from the task force and I hoped the Minister would tell me how many were implemented with regard to primary and secondary schools.
The Minister mentioned home economics as a vehicle for providing healthy lifestyle and eating. Does the Minister agree that the recent withdrawal of the home economics grant through the budget cutbacks is a setback to the implementation of obesity policy in second level schools? The Minister mentioned the great work done by the various sporting organisations so does the Minister agree that the recent cutbacks in substitution — the figure of €13 million was mentioned — will have a devastating effect on the implementation of obesity policy in our schools? The Minister stated that Ireland is faring well but my figures indicate there were over 300,000 obese children in our schools, and this was growing by over 10,000 each year.
One of the recommendations is that home school community co-ordinators should incorporate healthy skills within a wider framework of home visitation. What does the Minister say to the nine or ten voluntary schools in my constituency that will lose their home school liaison officer and will not be able to implement some of the recommended provisions?
I cannot comment on individual schools. It is appropriate that I mention here that at all times I was open to having discussions with the various education partners. When they came to meet me, they indicated they may have some suggestions and I indicated to the education committee that discussions were going on in the background. I bring it to the attention of the Dáil that those discussions have continued and proposals have been made by second level management bodies. These have identified that annual savings of €16 million on substitution can be made not only in the current year but on a continuing basis.
These savings essentially involve replacing an open-ended or demand-led availability of cover for uncertified sick leave and official school business costing €21 million per annum with an allocated or budgeted scheme costing €5 million per annum. This is a constructive and positive approach and I will make €2.7 million available to secondary schools for the remainder of the school year to provide each school with a limited number of hours of substitution cover outside of the supervision and substitution scheme. During this period, I intend for there to be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme in conjunction with school management bodies and teachers' unions with a view to taking up the additional €2.7 million expenditure. I will also be open to similar constructive suggestions from the primary school management bodies.
Will there be a change in the extra €2.6 million allocated to the substitution scheme?
No. The Deputy asked me about substitution and the difficulties in terms of sports, games and the operation of schools. We have held discussions with the Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools, JMB, and the second level teachers' unions are aware of the suggested agreement.
That is the post-primary level.
In light of a full review, I am prepared to invest €2.7 million in the system between January and June to complete discussions. It has been indicated to me that the schools will be able to live within these parameters.
Will the cutback be €16 million instead of €18 million?
No. The JMB and everyone involved in the constructive negotiations have indicated to me that €16 million in savings can be found in a full year. I will invest €2.7 million. We will continue our discussions during the coming school year and arrive at a satisfactory conclusion within the parameters. In terms of the constructive negotiations, having left the door open for discussion and realising that I do not want to affect schools into the new year, it would be sensible of us for the moment to take an approach that will deliver supervision and substitution within schools. In this way, I will get the majority of the savings for which I am looking.
I welcome that.
I hope that we will also welcome the answer to the next question.
