Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are plans to carry out studies regarding the availability of and participation in physical education during school hours, or by pupils outside of school hours on school premises. [9766/04]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline his Department's policy on the promotion of physical education in our primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9757/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 137 together.

The Economic and Social Research Institute has been engaged by the Sports Council to carry out a study of school sport and physical education, both during schools hours and after. The inspectors of physical education in my Department will act in an advisory capacity to the research process, the results of which are expected to be available in early 2005.

Physical education is part of the prescribed curriculum for primary schools. Second level schools should offer a physical education programme based on an approved syllabus with teaching hours registered on the school timetable. The focus of physical education in schools is on the young person's holistic development, stressing personal and social development, physical growth and motor development. Goal setting within the curriculum focuses on individual improvement and not on winning or being the best.

Physical education is one of the seven primary education curriculum areas and plans are in place to implement the new syllabus in PE in September 2005, with a programme of inservice training for all primary school teachers to begin in September 2004.

At post-primary level, a revised syllabus for PE for junior cycle as a non-examination subject is being introduced on a phased basis. This commenced in September 2003 when 112 schools started to deliver the revised syllabus. It is planned that a further cohort of schools will introduce the revised syllabus in September 2004, with the remaining schools becoming involved over the following years. The revised junior cycle physical education syllabus, with its practical focus, provides young people with an opportunity to explore a range of intelligences and represents a balance in what has long been acknowledged as an academically dominated curriculum. The school's physical education programme can help raise educational standards, promote healthy lifestyles, cultivate social responsibility and citizenship, nurture socialisation skills and ultimately help students realise their individual potential.

In addition to the formal curriculum, most schools provide students with further opportunities through extra-curricular programmes for sport. Teachers and parents make extremely valuable inputs to children's social and physical development through their contribution of time and expertise to these extra-curricular sporting activities. Many schools also gratefully avail of the services of coaching personnel offered to them by sporting organisations such as Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union.