THE IRISH are a nation of walkers according to the first national survey of involvement in sport and physical activity commissioned by the Departments of Health and Education. Details of the survey were jointly announced by the respective Ministers of State, Bernard Allen TD and Brian O'Shea TD in Dublin yesterday.

According to the survey 53 per cent of the population are involved on a weekly basis in some form of sport and physical activity with walking-topping the rankings with 28 per cent. Rather surprisingly soccer is listed below swimming at 11 per cent, as against 17 per cent, with the national games coming in at 10 per cent, six of that for football and four for hurling.

As might be expected, the young account for most of that 53 per cent, but the level drops down with the ageing process. Of the 16-18 age group interviewed a surprisingly high 88 per cent indicated that they had been involved at some level, but that level dropped by over a quarter as they moved into the senior cycle in school.

Health, enjoyment and social reasons are in the main given as the reasons for participation with 28 per cent playing competitively. Those who participate competitively are most likely to be men, single and in the 16-18 age bracket. That is also the level at which most receive coaching with 35 per cent benefiting.

Those down the social scale are less likely to be involved than those on the higher end, while farmers also register at the lower end of activity.

Facilities are generally perceived to be inadequate, with the provision of more swimming pools high on the agenda of many. Further such surveys are anticipated in the years ahead to monitor the development of physical education and it is likely that there will be some European involvement in those Surveys.