Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours of physical activity included in the primary level school curriculum. [51050/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Physical Education (PE) is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, it is one of seven curriculum areas within the Primary School Curriculum. A minimum of one hour of PE per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. According to the 2015 Lifeskills survey, published 21 July 2017, 94% of primary schools are allocating at least one hour per week to physical activity. 82% of schools reported that their school also participates in physical activities or sporting competitions outside of school time.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), which is the body designated by this Department to assess and implement curriculum change is currently carrying out a review of the overall Primary Curriculum Structure and Time. Future development work on PE at primary will take place as part of this ongoing review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum.

As part of this work, the NCCA is engaging widely with stakeholders in education and other interested individuals and groups. This includes working directly with schools from across the country on their priorities and needs for a redeveloped primary curriculum. Another strand of work involves drawing on an extensive body of research published in a series of short papers on the NCCA website - NCCA.ie

Building on all of this and informed by the findings from the 2017 consultation on curriculum structure and time, the NCCA will publish a draft overview of a redeveloped primary curriculum in autumn 2019. This draft will be the basis for an extensive consultation which will determine the overall shape and direction of a redeveloped curriculum.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) offers a comprehensive programme of support in PE to all teachers at primary level and to post primary teachers. PDST has developed a resource to support teachers in developing physically literate children through the lens of Fundamental Movement Skills. This resource, entitled Move Well, Move Often, has been designed to complement the teaching of the Irish Primary School Physical Education Curriculum and aims to provide a range of tools to support the teacher in teaching fundamental movement skills throughout the primary school.

The PDST offer a series of PE evening workshops annually. This year we will have an Introduction to Physical Literacy as well as Gymnastics, Dance and Playground games, through the lens of Physical Literacy. This aims to embed the Fundamental Movement Skills, not only in PE classes, but also through to the child’s free play.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours of physical activity included in the second level school curriculum. [51051/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Under the current Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, PE should form part of the curriculum. The syllabus in PE have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week. According to the 2015 Lifeskills survey, published 21 July 2017, 94% of post primary schools are allocating at least one hour per week to physical activity.

Junior Cycle Physical Education

Under the new Framework, schools may choose to incorporate a new Short Course in P.E. into their junior cycle programme, either for certification purposes (which was not available previously) or not for certification. Alternatively, they may choose not to opt for the new course and may instead continue to use existing courses or choose other approaches to meet the requirements in this area. Schools may also decide to provide the P.E. short course in addition to their existing programmes. The guidelines for Wellbeing in Junior Cycle recommend a minimum of 135 hours spread across first, second and third year (i.e. the most common current allocation of P.E. provided by schools – two class periods per week).

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. The course is available to all schools and it is designed for 100 hours duration.

Senior Cycle

The Department is currently working on two developments that will impact PE at senior cycle. A new specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and approved by the Minister. This is a full subject that can be assessed as a Leaving Certificate Subject in a manner similar to other subjects such as Maths and Irish.

In addition to the specification for examinable PE at Senior Cycle, a Framework for Senior Cycle P.E. has been designed 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 examination.

Leaving Certificate Physical Education

Leaving Certificate Physical Education is designed to be taught in approximately 180 hours. It is recommended that of the five suggested class periods a week, a double period per week should be included to facilitate learners’ active participation in the three physical activities.

Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework

The Framework will be available to all schools from September 2020 and will replace the guidelines set out in the Rules and Programmes for Secondary Schools which currently forms the basis for PE at Senior Cycle. A further communication will be issued in this regard early in the 2019/20 school year.

The Framework is designed to be taught over the two or three years of senior cycle education. It is recommended that a double period or its equivalent per week is made available as a minimum requirement for teaching the Framework.