Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan. I thank the Senator for raising it, as it gives me an opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects, including investment in furniture and equipment such as physical education equipment in primary and post-primary schools.

Modernising facilities, including furniture and equipment, in the existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth, presents a significant challenge. The Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of school buildings and ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum. In 2009 the Department spent in excess of €17.7 million on the provision of furniture and equipment in primary and post-primary schools. This investment was used to provide furniture and equipment in new schools and classrooms that opened during 2009. It was also used to provide replacement furniture and equipment in existing schools and classrooms. To date in 2010, the Department has paid out grants totalling in excess of €16.9 million for furniture and equipment.

Physical education provides children with learning opportunities through the medium of movement and contributes to their overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives. It is distinguished from other curricular areas by its primary focus on the body and physical experience and an integral part of the educational process, one without which the education of the child is incomplete. Through a diverse range of experiences providing regular and challenging physical activity, the balanced and harmonious development and general well-being of the child are fostered. Physical education meets the physical needs of the child and the need for movement experiences, challenges and play. It develops a desire for daily physical activity and encourages constructive use of free time and participation in physical activities in adult life. To fulfil these needs, physical education is built on the principles of variety and diversity, not specialisation. It provides a wide variety of movement activities appropriate to the level of development of the child.

Through physical education, the child can experience the joy of physical exertion and the satisfaction of achievement, while developing skills and positive attitudes that enhance self-esteem. Physical education provides opportunities to develop desirable personal and social attributes, including the concept of fair play, the acceptance of success and failure and the ability to co-operate in group settings. These opportunities contribute to the understanding and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. It as an integral part of the total curriculum and provides vital opportunities for the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the child.

At primary level the curriculum in physical education includes six broad strands featuring athletics, dance, gymnastics, games, outdoor and adventure activities and aquatics. While five of the strands are designed to be implemented each year, where possible, the aquatics strand is outlined for implementation at any level, depending on the availability of facilities in the area. The physical education curricula at primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools can vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it.

The recently published research paper from the Economic and Social Research Institute entitled, Designing Primary Schools for the Future, placed a strong emphasis on a variety of playground and sports equipment to cater for the needs of different pupil groups. It also noted that pupils acquired social, cognitive and physical skills through play, as well as an opportunity to take a break from school work. Most adults have become increasingly concerned about issues affecting health and well-being and are more aware than ever of the value and pleasure of physical exercise and sport which are essential elements of a balanced lifestyle and develop character, teamwork and leadership. The positive attitudes to physical well-being nurtured in formal schooling can continue to flourish through regular participation throughout life.

The Department has recently provided a playground and physical education equipment renewal grant for primary schools to meet requirements arising in respect of playground and physical education equipment. The grant was allocated on the basis of €1,000 per school and €10 per capita. The per capita calculation uses the Department's official record of enrolment figures as at 30 September 2009. The grant was added to the allocation to issue under the 2010-11 minor works grant. One of the key purposes of the grant is to aid further the educational arena in which physical education and sport can thrive. Holy Trinity national school, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, received a combined grant of in excess of €10,000 based on the above figures and it is open to the school authority to use the grant to purchase physical education equipment if it believes this is a priority. In addition to the above grants at primary level, schools currently receive in ancillary and capitation grants at least €355 per student. Primary schools may use this funding to support the implementation of the curriculum, including physical education.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position on the provision of grant aid for the purchase of physical education equipment and the supply of furniture and equipment to schools. I have noted her comments which I will bring to the attention of the Tánaiste.