Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to high quality Physical Education (PE) in primary and secondary schools. The appointment of Thomas Byrne TD as Minister of State with special responsibility for Sport and Physical Education reflects this commitment. My department also continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to curricular developments.

The new Primary Curriculum Framework was published in March last year. As part of the Primary Curriculum Framework will involve the development of the wellbeing framework which included a PE specification. A new Junior Cycle PE specification was introduced for first year students in all post-primary schools from September 2023. Schools are required to provide a minimum of 135 hours of Physical Education for all Junior Cycle students. There are two options for PE at Senior Cycle – Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE), which is an examinable subject and the Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) framework which is non- examinable. Introduced on a phased basis in 2018 to 64 schools, LCPE is now being offered by 404 schools around the country. The Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) non-examination framework provides a flexible planning tool for physical education for all students in senior cycle. Oide, the new Integrated Teacher Education Support Service, was launched on the 1st of September 2023. It promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of Teacher Professional Learning and support for our physical education teachers.

Outdoor learning experiences relating to the curriculum such as Athletics, Invasion Games and Adventure Activities, can take place outdoors on tarmac. My Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for outdoor multiuse games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size of school. For example, a new 24 classroom primary school with Special Education Needs classes is provided with 3 ball courts (1,755m² in total), 2 junior play areas (600m² in total), as well as Secure hard and soft play area (300m²) and a 100m² Sensory Garden. In respect of new post-primary schools, a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school will be provided with 6 ball courts (3,060m² in total) and a 200m² secure hard and soft special education play area.

Constraints in school site sizes in urban areas mean that the full suite of external accommodation may not be provided in all cases. In particular, the inclusion of practice playing fields is subject to space availability and school requirements. Where such facilities are available locally this is also taken into account.

There are 13 schools in my Department's Dublin 6W school planning area: 7 primary schools, 2 special schools and 4 post primary schools. Most of these schools have good external playing facilities and there is a significant number of sports facilities across the Dublin 6W area generally.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 690 school building projects, and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects.

School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. There are also 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.