Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The 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.

See this speech in context