Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for raising this issue. The truth is that the curriculum does have a considerable element devoted to physical education at primary level. The teacher training programme is designed to enable teachers to deliver all the elements of the curriculum, including aquatics and water safety. There is a module in the curriculum that deals specifically with the issue raised by the Senator. Obviously, having it on the curriculum and having it delivered 100% are two different things. It is really for parents, teachers and pupils to work within the curriculum to emphasise issues that are of public concern. Given the events of recent days and the urgings, I have no doubt there will be more interest in this element of the curriculum.

It is difficult if not impossible for the Department to track to what extent each one of the 3,200 schools emphasises water safety in its programme of physical education. However, it is there as a key element of the programme. The aquatics strand aims to support children in developing water confidence, basic swimming skills and an acute awareness of water safety. The development of these skills enables children to enjoy and to engage safely in water-based activities. Awareness of potential hazards and how to respond appropriately to incidents that threaten personal and group safety are an integral element of the aquatics strand. The strand is divided into a number of units. These include areas such as water safety, entry to and exit from the water, buoyancy and propulsion, and understanding and appreciation of aquatics. The curriculum provides adequately for the issue of concern to the Senator. In each case, schools must decide which elements of a programme are emphasised.

It is encouraging to note that Irish Water Safety, IWS, whose CEO, Mr. John Leech, spoke on the radio recently, has some very good programmes available to teachers who want to engage in this area. My Department has provided support this year and in previous years for primary teachers who wish to attend IWS courses during the summer. It is hoped this will provide an incentive for more teachers to familiarise themselves with some of the available material. Of course, IWS is not the only source of good material for supporting water safety education in our schools. Emphasising the importance of water safety is an area for which we all have a responsibility, as parents, teachers and members of the broader community. It is not really to inspect it in our education system. It is a question of partnerships involving schools, parents, community groups and local facilities to equip young people to be aware of the very genuine risks that exist.