Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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407. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the way in which action 1.4 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the provision of potable water in all learning centres; if a national audit has taken place of learning centres in respect of the availability of potable water; if not, if this will be done as a matter of priority; the consultation his officials have had with the Department of Health in this regard; the cost of providing potable water in all learning centres. [20829/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Health and Safety issues such as the provision of potable water is a matter for the school authorities in the first instance. However, if a school authority has concerns about the quality of the drinking water on its premises, it should consult with its local authority and/or Irish Water for advice. The school may also arrange for the water to be tested. If any problems are identified through testing the school authority should submit an Emergency Works application for remedial works to address the problems. Potable water is provided in all new primary and post-primary school accommodation.

Officials from my Department are involved in ongoing discussions with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency with a view to the implementation of the National Strategy to reduce exposure to Lead in Drinking Water which involves the development of a national testing strategy and subsequent remediation program for public buildings.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to undertake an audit of the built environment infrastructure and facilities available to schools and learning centres as part of the roll out of the National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland; the consultation which has taken place with his Department and other Departments in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20834/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a number of action under the National Physical Activity Plan as follows:

- Raise awareness among schools, particularly Primary schools, of opportunities to educate through physical activity

- Develop guidance to support schools adopt and implement policies that promote the well-being of their communities under the Get Active! Framework

- Extend the Active School Flag programme

- Fully implement the Physical Education curriculum for all primary and post-primary pupils to meet Department of Education and Skills guidelines

- Evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in Physical Education in a sample of primary and post-primary schools annually

- Develop and provide a programme of continuous professional development in physical education

- Promote the assessment of PE by facilitating teachers and students in managing the assessment dimension of senior cycle physical education through the development of an App (for phones/tablets) and to trial the App with a number of schools

- Conduct the LifeSkills Survey every three years

- Include children and young people in the development and implementation of programmes in which they are involved.

- Include the promotion of physical activity in children, including through play, as an integral component of education and training programmes that lead to qualifications in early childhood care and education

- Evaluating the quality of teaching and learning in Physical Education in a sample of primary and post-primary schools annually

- Raising awareness among schools, particularly Primary schools, of opportunities to educate through physical activity.

I am progressing these commitments according to the timelines laid out in the National Physical Activity Plan.

There are no plans to conduct an audit of the built environment infrastructure and facilities available to schools and learning centres.