Written answers

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Department of Education and Skills

Physical Education

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of third level training places available for the teaching of physical education; the current number of PE teachers at post-primary level; the number of new PE teachers who have qualified in Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16073/14]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures his Department has taken to ensure there will be sufficient physical education teachers, resources and facilities available in our post-primary schools to match the increase in pupil numbers expected over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16074/14]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.

I understand from the Teaching Council, the statutory body for registration of teachers, that the current number of post primary teachers registered on the basis of qualifications in PE stands at about 2100. Further data on the number of teachers registered on the basis of recognised PE qualifications in Ireland in recent years is shown in the following table.

My Department is not involved in allocating places on third level PE courses and therefore I do not have information to hand on the current number of places. However the data in the table shows an increasing trend. This Government remains committed to protecting and enhancing the educational experience of children. Despite the difficult economic climate, my Department has been able to protect frontline education services in 2014 by identifying sufficient expenditure savings and efficiencies. This includes provision for additional teachers in primary and post primary schools as well as additional resource teachers for children with special educational needs as announced in Budget 2014.

In the coming years, significant increases are expected in the number of school going children. In relation to facilities, generally, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. My Department's Five Year Construction Plan is focused on meeting those demographic needs and sets out the school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan.

Alongside the building of infrastructure, we are also preparing for the need to have more teachers in the system. I have asked the Teaching Council to examine the matter of teacher supply and I expect to receive an initial report from the Council later in the year.

Number of teachers registered on the basis of recognised PE qualifications in Ireland

REGISTRATION YEARSNUMBER OF TEACHERS
2009/201081
2010/2011154
2011/2012180
2012/2013220
2013/2014**356
** 2013/2014 was the year in which mandatory registration came into effect and many teachers who had not previously registered applied for registration.

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