John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 456: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reintroduce the grant for sports equipment in primary schools in such a way that it will match the increase in public expenditure generally; the likely cost of such an initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12134/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Physical education is one of the seven primary education curriculum areas and plans are in place to implement a new syllabus in September 2005. A programme of in-service training for all primary school teachers will take place during the current school year. In October 2000, my Department introduced a physical education grant for all primary schools. In excess of €5.5 million in grant aid was paid to primary schools under the scheme to enable schools to provide coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated its provision. Materials and equipment purchased by schools with the grant aid should be available to them for a number of years.

Schools may use their general capitation funding to support the implementation of curricula, including physical education. Since 1997, the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from £45, or €57.14, per pupil to €133.58, which is an increase of almost 134%.