Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of time per week that her Department recommends be spent on physical education at primary and secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7870/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At primary level, physical education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the primary school curriculum which was revised in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. At second level, while physical education is not a mandatory subject, it should form part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on the Department's approved syllabi and the teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. The time recommended for physical education is two hours per week. The phasing in of a revised syllabus at junior cycle level for physical education, non-examination, commenced in September 2003.

The syllabi both at primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available in schools vary. Consequently, they offer flexibility regarding the physical activities undertaken so that each individual school can design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to the school.