Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 317 of 15 December 2005, her plans to introduce physical education as an examination subject at leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23451/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second level schools should offer Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme should be based on the Department's approved syllabuses and teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. The syllabuses in Physical Education have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.

The phasing in of a revised Physical Education syllabus (non-examination) at Junior Cycle level commenced in September 2003. The Junior Cycle Physical Education Support Service has been in place since then to support teachers in the implementation of this syllabus. It is not possible at this time to set a timescale for the introduction of Physical Education as an examination subject.