Written answers

Wednesday, 28 February 2007

Department of Education and Science

Primary School Sports Initiative

10:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the task force announced on 10 November 2001, to assist in promoting healthy lifestyles amongst primary school children is still in existence; if the national sport co-ordinator and the two assistant co-ordinators to work with the task force were appointed at that time; their present status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7832/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Primary School Sports Initiative, (PSSI), which was launched in January 2001. It was established as a precursor to the roll out of national in-service training for primary teachers in the Physical Education Curriculum. As part of this initiative, a task force was established to inform the development of the project. Three teachers were seconded to the initiative, and were appointed as National Co-ordinator and assistant national co-ordinators. These teachers worked closely with 27 schools during the lifetime of the initiative and developed lesson plans based on the PE Curriculum which have since been developed into a CD ROM, launched by me in May 2006 and circulated to every school in the country.

The work of the PSSI served to inform the content and structure of the seminars provided by the Primary Curriculum Support Programme, (PCSP), for all primary teachers. Following the commencement of the training of designated PE trainers within the PCSP, the budget for the PSSI was subsumed into this programme. Following interviews, the 3 teachers seconded to PSSI were offered positions as PE trainers with PCSP. The national co-ordinator of the initiative however, had been appointed as principal before taking up this offer but the two assistant national co-ordinators accepted the offer and worked as trainers with the PCSP between 2004 and 2006. They have since returned to their base schools.

Currently, there is an Assistant National Co-ordinator working with the PCSP who has responsibility for leading a team of 17 Physical Education/Social Personal and Health Education Cuiditheoir who are involved in supporting teachers in schools in the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. This Co-ordinator also takes responsibility for co-ordinating the Active Schools Awards, another Department of Education and Science initiative which aims to raise the profile of PE and co-curricular physical activity in the context of the Primary PE curriculum and to promote lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity.

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