Three quarters of primary schools with no sports hall
More than 75% of primary schools have no sports hall and 45% have no playing pitches, a survey today revealed.
Fine Gael sports spokesperson, Jimmy Deenihan TD, whose party approached 1,400 principals to compile the findings, has criticised the exclusion of primary schools from a Government audit of sports facilities around the country.
Deputy Deenihan said that developing an exercise habit in young people should start at a young age and primary schools should be included in any clinical matter.
“It is clear to me that infrastructural barriers to playing sport and taking regular exercise are contributing to rising obesity levels and storing up health problems for the future,” he said.
“PE provision to schoolchildren is suffering from a dearth of facilities and it is a shame that in undertaking an audit of sports facilities nationally the Government has chosen to only include post-primary schools.”
Others areas of concern highlighted in the survey were:
:: Over 800 principals identified inadequate facilities/equipment as the main barrier to the provision of PE.
:: Over half of schools surveyed had no indoor facilities whatsoever, meaning in bad weather, PE becomes impossible.
:: Over 400 schools had no access to a swimming pool. Many of those who did were unable to utilise the facility due to the costs involved in transporting pupils.
“Primary school is often the first opportunity that children get to participate in sport,” Mr Deenihan continued.
“Providing appropriate PE time and facilities is a way in which children can develop an exercise habit which will help combat obesity and contribute to lifelong health.
“As things stand we are actively storing up health problems for the future with heart disease and diabetes being a particular concern.
“It is the responsibility of the state, particularly in light of rising obesity levels, to ensure the provision of appropriate PE facilities and this survey shows it is singularly failing in that duty.”
