Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to include physical education as a leaving certificate examination subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9795/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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 syllabuses 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 syllabuses 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. No timescale for implementation has been decided upon for introduction of physical education as an examination subject.