A total of €3 million in extra PE funding will this week be allocated to every secondary school, Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin announced today.
Paul Gogarty: promises an audit of all sports facilities
Under the package, each of the 750 post-primary schools in the State will receive €4,000 towards the cost of replacing and upgrading its PE equipment.
Ms Hanafin said: "This special PE equipment grant is being issued to all post-primary schools, as a once-off measure, to enable schools improve the PE facilities in their school.
"The grant . . . will mean that schools can replace older equipment - goalposts, PE mats, benches etc.
"I know that the modern equipment which can be purchased will help facilitate PE and sporting activities in schools, which everyone recognises is a very important aspect of school life."
This investment follows on from a similar type grant at primary level delivered to schools at the end of 2006.
"This funding package is being made as part of this Government's continued commitment to modernise facilities in schools throughout the country and in recognition of the key role of physical exercise within the school environment." said Ms Hanafin.
Fine Gael Sports Spokesman, Jimmy Deenihan, said today that a once-off PE Grant for secondary schools was no substitute for proper support and resources for PE provision.
Mr Deenihan said that, while schools would welcome the grant in the short-term, it would have no impact on rising obesity especially since primary schools were not included.
"The fact of the matter is that PE facilities have been devastated by Government neglect and as a result our young people are being denied the chance to develop a love of sport and foster an 'exercise habit' that will benefit their lifelong health," he said.
He added that an EU survey published earlier this month showed that "60 per cent of primary schools have inadequate facilities and equipment yet primary schools have been ignored by the Minister's announcement.
"Furthermore, a survey I carried out on behalf of Fine Gael revealed that 75 per cent of primary schools have no sports hall, over half have no indoor facilities at all and 60 per cent of principals identified inadequate facilities as the main barrier to PE provision."
The Green Party is calling for the addition of physical education as an examinable subject at second level as part of a new plan it claims will enhance children's involvement in physical activity at schools.
Speaking in Limerick, where the party has unveiled a proposal to build a sports-oriented school, education spokesman Paul Gogarty said the introduction of PE as an examinable subject would ensure between three and four hours' exercise a week.
He said said every child must be given the opportunity to participate in physical activity to help combat the rising levels of childhood obesity.
"PE has been neglected for too long within our education system" he said. "Standards vary widely across the country; a student's exposure to PE hours very much depends on the facilities in the school and the availability of dedicated teachers."
Mr Gogarty promised that if elected to government the Greens will invest €17 million" to significantly upgrade sports equipment and training in all schools."