Support for PE as compulsory exam subject

Sports stars, teachers, and health experts have backed the idea of physical education as a compulsory second-level exam subject.

A recent report for the Irish Sports Council highlighted how children tend to take part in less sport after primary school. The Economic and Social Research Institute found that exam preparation was a big factor in drop-out rates, but also discovered students who play sport get better Leaving Certificate results.

A 2010 Dublin City University study showed that fewer than one in eight children aged 10 to 18 take part in at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, a guideline recommended by the Department of Health.