Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to establish physical education as an examination subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39088/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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A short course for Junior Cycle in Physical Education (P.E.) is currently available to schools. This short course has been designed for 100 hours duration. The P.E. short course is part of the new Framework for Junior Cycle which recognises the importance of physical education and physical activity in schools, particularly in the context of the 'Wellbeing' principle. Under the new Framework, schools may choose to incorporate the new short course in P.E. into their junior cycle programme.

The new short course in P.E. aims to develop students as knowledgeable, skilful and creative participants who are confident and competent to perform in a range of activities safely. The course aims to build students' appreciation of the importance of health-enhancing and inclusive physical activity and a commitment to it now and in the future.

A draft Senior Cycle P.E. framework has been designed by the NCCA to provide schools with a framework within which they can design a P.E. programme for those students who do not choose to take P.E. as part of their Leaving Certificate. Schools will be given the flexibility in selecting which activities their students will study, including aquatics.Leaving Certificate P.E. is currently being developed by the NCCA as a full subject which will be available for certification as a Leaving Certificate subject in a manner similar to other subjects such as Maths and Irish.