Fine Gael to tackle obesity among children with €100 million Schools Sports Fund – Deenihan

50 new swimming pools nationally

“Fine Gael in power will tackle the rise in childhood obesity by investing €100 million in a Schools Sports Fund to develop sporting facilities at primary and secondary schools, and by providing 50 new swimming pools nationally”, Fine Gael Arts, Sport & Tourism Spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said on Thursday.

“In recent years the issue of obesity – particularly amongst children – has highlighted the need to significantly expand sports at school. Fine Gael will ensure that all primary and secondary students have at least two hours of physical education per week. It is not good enough that our children’s access to physical training in school is weather dependant or limited to the level of school infrastructure or resources.
“PE provision in primary schools has been identified as a particular problem and that's worrying since our obesity crisis is showing up at ever-younger ages. A recent EU survey showed that 60% of primary schools have inadequate facilities and equipment. Furthermore, a survey I carried out on behalf of Fine Gael revealed that 75% of primary schools have no sports hall, over half haven't any indoor facilities at all and 60% of principals identified inadequate facilities as the main barrier to PE provision.

" Only 2% of sports capital applications were schools-related in 2006. The current Government is missing an opportunity to use national lottery funds to build facilities that can be shared by schools and the wider community. Fine Gael will lead an active campaign to encourage the submission of such applications to the sports capital programme, and applications will be prioritised”, he said.

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