Minister Byrne opens inaugural Forum on Physical Education – ‘Education on the Move’

Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, is today (Thursday) opening the inaugural Forum on Physical Education at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

The Forum brings together stakeholders from across the area of physical education, including teachers, school leaders, students, academics and policymakers, to examine how physical activity can be brought into classroom learning.

Tánaiste Michéal Martin TD will provide the keynote address at the Forum and it will include three panel discussions with experts in the areas of Physical Education, sport and physical activity, including:

• Jason Smyth, Irish Paralympian and Strategy Manager at Paralympics Ireland;

• Professor Catherine Woods, Director of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at University College Limerick;

• Michael Darragh Macauley, Community Sport & Wellbeing Co-Ordinator at North East Inner City, primary school teacher and former Dublin footballer;

• Karen Cotter, National Coordinator of the Active School Flag Programme;

• Dalton Tattan, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Education;

• Sarah O'Brien, Head of HSE Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme;

• Dr Wesley O'Brien, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Coaching Science at University College Cork;

• Brenda O'Donnell, CEO of Active Disability Ireland;

• Shari Irfan, President of the Irish Second-Level Students' Union,

• Benny Cullen, Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland and

• Dr Joao Costa, Lecturer in Sport Pedagogy at University College Cork

The MC of the Forum is RTÉ Sports Presenter, Jacqui Hurley. Following the conclusion of the Forum, a report will be published on its findings.

Minister Byrne said:

"I am very proud to launch the inaugural Forum on Physical Education today. I warmly welcome the keynote address by Tánaiste Michéal Martin TD which underlines the strong commitment of the Government to physical education. The Forum brings together students, teachers, education experts, and interested stakeholders from across Ireland in the interests of sharing best practice and laying out our ambitions for the future. It is so important to equip our young people with the skills they need to be physically active throughout their lives.

"By bringing movement into the classroom, we can help to develop lifelong engagement in physical activity. Through our Forum today, we will explore what is already being done in communities throughout the country and what more can be done to bring 'Education on the Move' to life in our classrooms and increase levels of physical activity for all."

Tánaiste Michael Martin said,

"I'm delighted to attend today's inaugural Forum on Physical Education alongside Minister of State for Sport, Thomas Byrne. Both education and sport have been lifelong passions of mine and I believe, as a society, our emphasis has to be on every child having access to, and being involved, in physical activity.

"This Forum provides us with a great opportunity to look at the positive work being done across the education system to get children involved in physical exercise, and to consider what more we can do to encourage greater participation."