Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proportion of the estimated 500,000 primary school pupils currently within the system that are availing of swimming lessons and instructions in water safety; if he will indicate the strategies his Department is using within the primary and indeed post primary system with a view to ensuring a high level of awareness of water safety; if he will indicate if his Department incurs any expenditure in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28920/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department does not maintain statistics on the proportion of primary school pupils that avail of swimming lessons and instructions in water safety. This is a matter for each individual school.

All schools are expected to deliver the Physical Education curriculum. My Department encourages schools to make every effort to deliver the aquatics strand as one component of a comprehensive Physical Education programme at both primary and post-primary level.

The aquatics strand aims to support children in developing water confidence, basic swimming skills and an acute awareness of water safety. The development of these skills enables children to enjoy and to engage safely in water-based activities. Awareness of potential hazards and how to respond appropriately to incidents that threaten personal and group safety are an integral element of the aquatics strand.

My Department does not incur any additional expenditure in this regard.