Ms Maureen Mulvihill:

Deputy Ó Ríordáin asked why some students are not taking part in PE. As Mr. Chris Macey said, we are not arguing for the status quo, but for an improved situation. A recent report was published by the Irish Sports Council on participation in physical activity and sport. It has made very strong recommendations, for example, that the school system must obtain sustained government support for PE and that PE must be recognised as a mandatory, essential and properly resourced curriculum subject. These recommendations were made on the basis of discussions with the Department of Education and Skills and various agencies, including Physical Education Association of Ireland, PEAI, Teacher Forum and other players. It has long been recognised and is probably true of one or two other subjects that PE has never had the value and emphasis it deserves on the curriculum. We do not even meet the current recommendations of our own Department.