Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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326. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capital funding he plans to put in place for schools to be able to effectively teach physical education as a leaving certificate subject. [54520/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Two new physical education elements at senior cycle will be introduced to schools on a phased basis from September 2018:

1. Leaving Certificate Physical Education (an optional subject for examination in the Leaving Certificate);

2. A Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework (not for examination).

As part of the process of identifying schools to participate in Phase 1 of the implementation of Physical Education in Senior Cycle commencing in September 2018, a circular letter (ref 0080/2017) was recently issued by my Department to all post-primary schools inviting them to apply. The letter advised of the selection criteria that would be used to assist in selecting the Phase 1 schools. These criteria include the requirement that schools have suitable facilities including indoor and/or outdoor spaces for learning in Physical Education.

Phase 1 of the implementation process will involve a small cohort of schools who have the capacity to introduce Physical Education as a Leaving Certificate subject and/or the Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework in September 2018. The deadline for applications to participate in Phase 1 is 16 January. Planning for the subsequent rollout of the subject and framework as an option for all schools will require further consideration regarding the capacity of schools to offer these elements.