Written answers

Thursday, 23 October 2008

Department of Education and Science

Physical Education Facilities

5:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made towards resolving the issue of insurance of sports halls in schools in order to allow greater community use of these halls during periods when the school is not using the hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36794/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility of my Department in this area is the provision of school facilities for the effective delivery of the curriculum. In addition, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their premises are managed and utilised at local level.

However, I do recognise that there is a lack of recreational facilities for community use in certain areas which could be met if school premises were made available to the wider community. To encourage schools in this respect, my Department issued a circular to all school authorities in late 2005 urging trustees and Boards of Management to make their facilities available where possible for community education and recreation purposes. Decisions in relation to the use of school facilities remain entirely at the discretion of the school authorities, subject to the condition that the needs of the students attending the school are prioritised in the first instance.

My Department's position generally is that the availability of such facilities should be self-funding i.e. adequate to cover the heat/light/caretaking arrangements as well as making some contribution to the repair of wear and tear on premises caused by increased use. Of utmost importance, schools should ensure that insurance and security are covered as it is unlikely that the school's insurance policy would cover non-school activities or that a caretaker would be routinely available to open/lock up premises.

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 24 September 2008 he will undertake to establish the number of primary and secondary schools which have physical education halls and gym facilities; if his Department is promoting physical education within the formal education sector to the best of its ability in view of the fact that his Department is not even aware of the number of schools that have indoor sports facilities and the number that do not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36801/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I informed the Deputy in September, in view of other competing priorities in the capital area, it is not possible to allocate staffing resources to the compilation of the information on accommodation at this stage.

However, I can assure the Deputy that my Department is actively promoting physical education as a core part of the curriculum. At primary level, the programme has been developed on the basis of a provision of a minimum timeframe of at least 1 hour tuition per week. At second level, all schools are required to offer Physical Education as part of the curriculum, and the syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.

A curriculum in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory part of all programmes for primary students and at junior cycle. The programme begins in the infant classes and specifically addresses the need for regular exercise, and examines food and nutrition issues and the need for a balanced diet. These themes are continued into the programme in junior cycle under the physical and mental health modules in the curriculum.

Schools also play a major role in nurturing and promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport. The Irish Sports Council, in co-operation with bodies such as the FAI and Local Sports Partnerships, has developed a national Buntús Primary Schools Initiative through which additional supports — training, resource cards and equipment — are provided to support teachers and others in introducing young people to sport, and to complement the Physical Education curriculum. The initiative aims to raise the profile of physical activity and sport, improve inservice training opportunities for teachers, assist governing bodies of sport to develop and deliver appropriate supports for teachers, and provide enjoyable and meaningful activity for children which supports the delivery of the curriculum. For practising teachers, curriculum support services at primary and second level provide training and school based support for teachers.

This Government has worked hard to improve the opportunities for young people to get physical exercise both in school and in their local communities. In a new school building or refurbishment/extension, PE facilities are included as part of the design. Between 2000 and 2006 a total of 516 large-scale projects were delivered in primary and post-primary schools by the Department as part of a record overall investment of €2.6 billion in modernising primary and post-primary school facilities throughout the country. Many more large-scale projects are under construction or due to go to construction in the near future. New PE equipment such as balancing benches and gym mats are funded as part of any major building programme.

A special PE funding package of €6.5 million issued in 2006 to primary schools, and in 2007 a similar package of €3 million issued to post-primary schools. Under these packages, primary schools received €2,000 and post-primary €4,000 towards the cost of replacing and upgrading PE equipment. This grant was issued, as a once-off measure, to enable schools to replace older equipment such as goalposts, PE mats, benches etc. Since 2000 the Department has also 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. Such materials and equipment would normally be expected to last for a number of years.

So, through an increased focus on exercise in school and in the community, we are working to encourage more children and young people to get active. Indeed, the 'State of the Nation's Children' report published by the Minister for Children recently, found that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across the 32 WHO countries in being physically active for at least 4 hours per week.

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