Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 1206: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that pupils of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford have no teachers for physical education, music or speech and drama; his views on whether children with special needs can benefit from participation in arts based subjects and physical education; if he will review the teaching complement in this school with a view to broadening the curriculum to include PE, music and speech and drama; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29528/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I believe that the arts and physical education have an important role to play in the education of the individual. Music, the visual arts and drama provide for sensory, emotional, intellectual and creative enrichment and contribute to the young person's holistic development and self esteem. Physical Education plays an important role in promoting physical and motor development, promoting social interaction and co-operation with others, an understanding of fair play, an experience of success, and enjoyment and positive attitudes towards physical activity. It is important that participation for all in physical education is promoted for all in accordance with children's abilities.

Arts education (visual arts, music and drama) and physical education are core elements of the integrated curriculum for primary school pupils. All qualified primary teachers including new graduates of the Colleges of Education for primary teaching are qualified to teach all aspects of the primary school curriculum including physical education, music and drama.

The school referred to by the Deputy is a Special School catering for pupils with a Mild General Learning Disability. The school have a staffing of an administrative principal as well as 10 teaching posts with an enrolment of 96 pupils. This is in excess of the staffing allocation that the school is entitled to in the context of its classification. In the circumstances, my Department has no plans to review the teaching complement in the school.