Sports in schools neglected, says union

THE Government has been accused of neglecting sports in schools as two ministers launched a major European sports education programme yesterday.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey and Sports Minister John O’Donoghue announced that schools and youth organisations can apply for 6.5m EU funding as part of European Year for Education through Sport (EYES) in 2004.

But the Irish National Teachers Organisation said physical education (PE) is so under-funded that almost three-quarters of primary schools cannot fully implement the curriculum.