Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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443. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide some additional information on the physical education role within the Minister of State's new Ministry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1079/23]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has appointed me to be Minister of State at both the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and also the Department of Education with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education.

The Sports Action Plan 2021-2023 contains a number of actions highlighting the importance of physical activity in the educational setting. It is intended to identify and promote ways to maximise physical activity throughout the school day. It is also considered appropriate to support engagement between sports clubs and schools with a view to increasing physical activity and increasing participation. In accordance with the role assigned to me by the Government, my primary focus will accordingly be directed at achieving progress on these important sports policy aims.

In addition, I also intend that both Departments should collaborate closely on considering how best to progress the conclusions of the Youth Stakeholder Forum on Sport, which was held in May 2022. A significant number of the conclusions reached by the youth participants at that forum related specifically to the educational setting which can, in my view, be advanced as part of my expanded role. I will also be progressing implementation of relevant commitments of shared interest in the Programme for Government.

I am excited by the possibilities of collaboration between both Departments on areas identified already and to be identified exploring further areas for collaboration where we can positively impact on the participation of young people in sport.

In that context, I will prioritise a strongly collaborative and structured engagement between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education on these and other related issues.