Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1093: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are shortfalls as per his Departments guidelines in relation to the delivery of physical education in secondary schools at junior or senior cycle here; if so, if he will identify where such shortfalls exist, that is, if they are more pronounced in particular parts of the country, in particular schools, senior versus junior cycle and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32939/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1095: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide an assurance that physical education as a non-examinable subject will not become marginalised on the school curriculum pending implementation of some or all of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32941/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1093 and 1095 together.

At post-primary level, in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools physical education should form part of the curriculum in all schools. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on the Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable.

It should be noted that teacher allocations for all second level schools are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on the 30th of September of the preceding school year. Each school management authority is required to organise its curriculum, teaching time-table and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limits of its approved teacher allocation. The appointment of teachers to posts within the approved quota is a matter for the authorities of the schools concerned.

Physical education will continue to play an important role in providing a broad and balanced education programme for students. The evidence available to date would not suggest there has been a significant diminution or marginalisation of the subject recently in schools. An evaluation of inspection reports undertaken by my Department in 2008 indicates that the vast majority of schools are timetabling PE. However, the reports showed that 22% of schools did not provide the subject for the all students in senior cycle. In such cases, the provision was either not provided for final year students (13%), not provided at all for senior cycle (4%) or provided for only part of the year (4%). If issues emerge during a school inspection which indicate that a programme is not being implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Department, these matters are brought to the attention of the school board of management for attention.