Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Given that the Department of Education and Science gave a low priority to the provision of sports halls at primary and second levels and that the Minister's predecessor advised schools that they should turn their general purpose rooms into classrooms when a problem with accommodation arose, I appeal to the Minister to ensure that any application which includes the provision of a sports hall for a school, be it primary or post-primary, be considered positively, given that it is the only way such a school may be able to provide a sports hall.

I carried out a survey of primary schools last year prior to Christmas to which 1,400 responded. Of that number, only 322 schools had sports halls. Of those, only 32 had a sports hall larger than 170 sq m or the size of two badminton courts, which is quite small. Therefore, 310 schools had sports halls smaller than that. With our weather conditions, unless schools have indoor sports facilities, it is impossible for teachers, especially in primary schools, to carry out a physical education programme. As a result, children in many schools are not exposed to any physical activity from October to May as it is impossible to provide for that when the necessary facilities are not in place. The Minister has an opportunity under this programme to do something about that.

Owing to the lack of physical activity among children, the report of the national task force on obesity showed that 300,000 children are either overweight or obese and that condition is increasing by 10,000 every year. The national children's food survey in 2005 showed that one out of every five children in the five to 12 year old category are either overweight or obese. The children in this age category are those attending primary school. The increase in the incidence of this condition is a problem of epidemic proportions. The Minister can play a role in the provision of facilities by giving preferential treatment any application received to provide a sports hall or similar facility on the grounds of or adjacent to a primary or a post-primary school.

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