Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 651: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to provide a dedicated fund for investment in physical education facilities for schools. [28700/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to provide physical education equipment grants to schools every three years. [28702/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 653 together.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to promoting exercise for our children and young people — both in their community and at school. Over €2.6 billion has been provided for school building infrastructure between 2000 and 2006 and a further €4.5 billion is to be invested under the current National Development Plan 2007-2013. Close to €600m of this will be provided this year alone. In a new school building or refurbishment/extension PE facilities are included as an intrinsic part of the design.

New curricula for PE in primary schools and at Junior Cert level have also been put in place. The PE curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the PE programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

Primary schools received €2,000 each in PE equipment grants in 2006, at a total cost of €6.5 million. A similar grant of €4,000 per school, at an overall cost of around €3 million, issued to post-primary schools in 2007. In addition, since 2000 my Department has provided in excess of €5.5m 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.

The extent and quality of local sports facilities has been improved dramatically in recent years, with more than €450 million invested by the Government since 1998 in over 5,000 projects through the Sports Capital Programme. At the same time, PE, general purpose and outdoor play facilities have been provided for schools all over the country through the School Building Programme.