A £2 million a year initiative to promote sport, physical education and healthy lifestyles among primary school children was formally launched yesterday by the Minister for Education, Dr Woods.
It will involve an annual grant of £1,000 for primary schools in disadvantaged areas and £500 for all others, the Minister said.
"Many of our greatest sportsmen and sportswomen can trace their interest in sport back to their primary school," said Dr Woods.
"We need to start with our young primary school children in promoting healthy lifestyles."
The initiative, which was first mooted at the INTO annual conference in April, was being announced now in time for the start of the new school year, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education explained.
"The details have been agreed as to the money that will be available and when it will be payable - in time for the beginning of the school year," she said. The money would be used for "coaching, mentoring and equipment", she added.
A national steering group being established under the chairmanship of Charlie Redmond, the former Dublin footballer.
Redmond will assist in the promotion of sport and healthy lifestyles among primary school children. National sports co-ordinators are to be appointed to work with the steering group.