Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to employ physical education teachers for each primary and post-primary school in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47725/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

All qualified Primary teachers are qualified to teach the full spectrum of the Primary Curriculum including Physical Education. Primary teachers undertake elements of physical education as part of their teacher training.