Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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513. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the merits of expanding the University of Limerick’s health and sciences faculty's third study into flexibility and neuromuscular development in adolescents in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5735/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department is involved in a number of measures to promote the overall government 'Healthy Ireland' agenda that is being led by the Department of Health. This includes a number of measures to promote physical activity in post primary schools.

Post primary schools are required to deliver a minimum of 2 hours per week of Physical Education. In 2012, my Department carried out a 'Lifeskills' Survey in primary and post primary schools. The data indicated that, in addition to this formal PE provision, 96% of post primary schools encourage physical activity outside of school, and 86% promote physical activity during school break times.

My Department's Professional Development Support Service for Teachers (PDST) is currently developing a professional development programme for primary and post primary teachers in P.E.. The initial focus of this professional support will be on developing fundamental movement skills and building the knowledge, skills and capacity of teachers to meet the physical literacy needs of learners through the P.E. Curriculum.

My Department also supports the Active Schools Flag. This initiative, which was launched in 2009, recognises schools that provide a quality programme for all students and promote physical activity across the whole school community. The popularity of this programme among all schools is increasing annually.

Physical activity by pupils is not the sole remit of schools. PE in schools is designed to complement activity and other lifestyle habits outside of school. In fact, this "whole of life" approach is being adopted in the National Physical Activity Plan, which is currently being finalised by a cross-sectoral working group co-chaired by the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism and Sport. The Department of Education and Skills is a member of this group.

In addition, I will shortly be issuing guidance to all schools about measures to promote healthy lifestyles generally. This guidance encompasses measures to promote P.E. and physical activity, as well as healthy eating and healthy vending. The guidance has been drafted in consultation with the Department of Health and the HSE.

I have no plans at this time to extend the study referred to by the Deputy. However, as part of a quality physical education programme, P.E. teachers routinely provide information, advice and guidance to students on how to improve a range of components of fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle. This would frequently include advice on the benefits of improved flexibility and the measurement of this component using basic field tests such as the sit-and-reach test.

The authors of the study may wish to make contact with the management bodies of post primary schools, or principals' associations, should they wish to disseminate the benefits of their work more widely.