Vow to make PE Leaving subject

THE Labour Party yesterday promised to make physical education a Leaving Certificate subject carrying third-level points.

Outlining the party’s policies on sport, its spokesman Jack Wall and Dublin South councillor Aidan Culhane stressed they would put more emphasis on PE in schools.

Mr Culhane said the current attitude towards physical education was very poor.

“Almost a quarter of second-level schools lack a qualified PE teacher. Recommended activities like dance and swimming are not available on the PE timetable in schools,” he said.

Mr Wall said the only facilities many primary schools had was a “pile of muck” out the back of the building.

The Kildare South TD went on to pledge that his party would move to have National Lottery sports funding taken away from politicians.

At present, the final decision for distributing the grants rests with the Sports Minister. There has been criticism in recent years that grants tend to favour the minister’s home county. Mr Wall said that the Sports Council should have that responsibility.

“The Olympic Games in London in 2012 provides the ideal opportunity to overhaul and update Irish sport,” he said.

Ireland could be used as a training base and it the 2012 games would be the ideal platform for Irish athletes to perform at the highest level, added Mr Wall.