Ireland lags behind in PE league

Ireland has finished bottom of a table measuring the time devoted to physical education in our primary schools, it emerged today.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study of 29 nations found only 4% of teaching time for children aged 9-11 years was spent on PE.

This compared with 15% in France, 12% in Austria and 7% in England.

Australia finished joint-last with Ireland with Scotland second from the bottom on 5%.

The survey results from OECD, an international organisation helping governments tackle social and economic challenges, were published as the Labour party called for more investment in playground facilities for children.

Party leader Pat Rabbitte claimed just €2m was spent by the Exchequer on playgrounds in the last year “at a time when existing play facilities are completely inadequate“.

Mr Rabbitte said that local authorities need to be encouraged to make greater provision in their county development plans for playgrounds, provided there is adequate Government funding.