Written answers

Wednesday, 28 February 2007

Department of Education and Science

Physical Education Facilities

10:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the €2,000 physical education grant for each primary school has been awarded; if this will be an annual grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7831/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A special PE funding package, of €6.5 million, issued late last year to primary schools. Under the package, each school received €2,000 towards the cost of replacing and upgrading PE equipment in their school. This grant was issued, as a once-off measure, to enable schools to replace older equipment such as goalposts, PE mats, benches etc. The modern equipment that can be purchased will facilitate PE and sporting activities in schools, which everyone recognises is a very important aspect of school life.

This funding package was made as part of this Government's continued commitment to modernise facilities in schools throughout the country. In addition, since 2000, my Department has provided in excess of €5.5 million in grant-aid to primary schools to facilitate the provision of coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated with the provision of physical education.

Appropriate classroom equipment is provided as part of extension and refurbishment projects and new school buildings funded by my Department. Under the furniture and equipment element of my Department's school building and modernisation programme, funding is available for the provision of additional equipment at developing schools or the replacement of outdated or damaged equipment.

I increased the level of grant payable under the annual devolved grant scheme for minor works to national schools last November. All primary schools with full recognition receive a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. This grant is intended to address works required to the physical infrastructure of the schools or to pay for items of furniture and equipment for educational use, including PE and IT related equipment. Some €27 million was paid out to primary schools throughout the country to enable thousands of small scale works to be completed without the need to interact with my Department.

Primary schools that establish a class for special needs pupils receive a once-off grant of €6,500 per class to purchase equipment, including physical education equipment, that they feel best meets the needs of the pupils attending the class. Schools may use their general capitation funding to support the implementation of curricula, including physical education. Since 1997, the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level was increased from €57.14 per pupil to €163.58 from 1 January 2007.

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