Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask 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. [10778/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In accordance with the rules and programme for secondary schools, all second level schools should provide physical education as part of the curriculum. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.

As Deputies will be aware, this Government has worked hard to improve the opportunities for young people to get physical exercise both in school and in their local communities. There have been a number of positive developments in relation to physical education, PE, in schools in recent years.

We have funded the provision of PE, general purpose and outdoor play facilities as part of the school building and modernisation programme. Over €2 billion has been provided for school building projects since 2002, while a further €4.5 billion will be invested under the new national development plan. We have put in place new curricula for PE in primary schools and at junior certificate level and last year primary schools received €2,000 each in PE equipment grants at a total cost of €6.5 million. A similar grant is on the way for second level schools.

We believe that PE is an important part of the school curriculum and that every child should get the opportunity to exercise at school. However, we are also conscious of the fact that children spend just 20% of their waking hours at school and so their level of physical activity during the rest of the week is just as important.

This Government's investment in community sports facilities has been unparalleled. Since 1998 almost €470 million has been allocated to over 5,000 sports capital projects and a great many of the new facilities built by this Government are used by children and young people. In 1997 the annual sports budget was €17 million. This year it is €297 million and I think that speaks volumes for our commitment.

Through an increased focus on exercise in school and in the community, we are working to encourage more children and young people to get active. Indeed, the State of the Nation's Children report, recently published by the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Brian Lenihan, found that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across 32 World Health Organisation countries in being physically active for at least four hours per week.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for her reply but we have heard the argument that children spend only 20% of their time in school time and again from her. I understand this but if children had a poor standard of English having spent 20% of their time in school we would not find it acceptable and the fact that children do not get enough exercise is similarly unacceptable.

In terms of investment, I am aware of the figures from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism but I am concerned with the Department of Education and Science today. Fine Gael surveyed 1,400 primary schools and got the following results. Of the respondents, 51% had no indoor PE facilities whatsoever, 25% had only a multipurpose room and 23% had a sports hall. Some 54% of schools had a playing pitch and 46% did not — in other words, little or no sporting facilities.

The Minister mentioned that the Government spent €2 billion on school buildings and I understand this is a priority but is she admitting that the provision of PE facilities in schools is not a priority for this Government? Schools that apply only for a PE hall tend to be given a band four rating. Does this indicate the provision of sports facilities is not seen as a priority?

Regarding the first part of the Minister's reply, is she saying that all second level children spend two hours exercising in school per week or merely that this is what the Department requests of schools? Is there a difference in how this applies at junior cycle level and senior cycle level?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is recommended that they exercise for two hours per week and this differs from school to school. Like relationships and sexuality education, time spent on PE tends to lessen as classes approach exams.

The Department's policy is to provide PE halls to schools that do not have such a facility and they are already part of the design for new schools, major renovations and extensions. However, the provision of schools in areas that have no school is the number one priority and this will continue to be the case. Large schools such as Castleknock community college and Loreto secondary school, Bray, which had been waiting got the go-ahead to build PE halls.

Under the summer works scheme schools have been able to upgrade outdoor and indoor facilities. Bearing in mind that more than half the schools in the country have four teachers or fewer, with less than 80 pupils, a sports hall would not be provided, but there would be space in the school. Many schools may use nearby community halls, sports pitches and so forth. The recommended course is flexible to allow schools to use nearby facilities. While we want to encourage young people to be active and use school facilities, our priority is the provision of classrooms.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The physical education curriculum for primary 11 reads well as it features subjects such as aquatics. In practical terms, however, the Department does not provide funding to cover the cost of transferring children to swimming pools in the locality. Will this policy be reconsidered? Does the Minister plan to prioritise swimming and aquatics?

The Minister referred to small four-teacher schools, many of which are in rural areas. It is inaccurate to claim these schools are frequently located close to sports facilities. This is often not the case and where such facilities are nearby, they tend to be outdoor facilities given that few indoor gymnasiums have been built in rural areas either by the private or public sectors.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The reason aquatics is included in the curriculum is to give schools the flexibility to use the sporting facilities available to them. Pupils in my constituency can walk from school to the blue pool and use it as part——

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They cannot do that in my constituency.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It would be wrong not to allow schools to use such facilities as part of the acceptable curriculum.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Should all schools not be afforded the same opportunity?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Let us be reasonable, not every village will have a swimming pool.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is true but schools should be facilitated to use pools in the locality.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It also means a school may offer dance or any of the other subjects on the programme. For this reason, it is important that the programme is sufficiently flexible to enable schools to use facilities provided for them. Pupils in Thurles need only walk across the road from their school to access a swimming pool. In addition, a new pool is about to be built in the town.

Schools should use all local facilities. The capitation grant is available to cover the cost of taking students to a local swimming pool. I appreciate, however, that not every school will offer swimming or, for that matter, hurling.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Swimming is not facilitated.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We all seek to have equality in the system but while some schools have great facilities, others do not have any facilities. Should there not be a fund to compensate schools which do not have facilities or access to free community facilities in their locality? For example, some schools cannot afford to pay the entrance fee to commercial swimming pools, which may be the only facility available locally. Will the Minister consider establishing a fund to which schools could apply to enable them to fulfil their role in terms of the PE curriculum?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

No. The fund made available to primary schools last year was to enable them to purchase equipment.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They do not have a place to put it.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The fund which will shortly be made available to primary schools is to enable them to buy equipment that they can use in accordance with the needs of their students and taking into account the facilities available to them. The Department will continue to upgrade and provide quality facilities for our schools. All recent building and modernisation projects have delivered top-class extra facilities. As the schools building programme proceeds — 1,500 projects are scheduled this year — more and more schools are benefiting from top-class facilities. Those schools which have not yet benefited have the flexibility to adapt the PE programme to suit their needs.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In other words, it is tough luck for them.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I listened attentively to the Minister's comments on physical education halls and other facilities. A PE hall in an educational facility located to the rear of a school in Crumlin is not being fully utilised. Will the Minister explain what type of co-ordination takes place in this regard? Is it possible to fast-track proposals to allow one school to use the facilities of another school, as in the case in Crumlin? It is crazy that schools are not able to use nearby facilities or that efforts to use them have been delayed as a result of the structures in place.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not sure if the Deputy is referring to a sports hall built in the drugs task force area.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the facilities of Pearse College at the rear of Loreto College in Crumlin.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not familiar with the schools in question.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will send the Minister a note on the case.