title: Results from Ireland's 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity in Children and Youth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) levels are a key performance indicator for policy documents in Ireland. The first Ireland Report Card on Physical Activity in Children and Youth aims to set a robust baseline for future surveillance of indicators related to PA in children and youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected between 2003-2010 on more than 35,000 7- to 18-year-old children and youth were used and graded using a standardized grading system for 10 indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grades assigned for the indicators were as follows: overall physical activity levels, D-; sedentary behavior (TV viewing), C-; organized sport participation, C-: physical education, D-; active play, inconclusive (INC); active transportation, D; school, C-, community and the built environment, B; family, INC; and government, INC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PA recommendations exist in Ireland but this Report Card has shown that participation is still low. A number of promising policies, programs and services are in place but these require thorough evaluation and adequate resourcing. Agreement and implementation of a common framework for the systematic surveillance of indictors related to PA of children and youth is necessary to monitor change over time and ensure the impact of promising work is captured.
authors.affiliation: University of Leicester CUKI.
authors.forename: Deirdre M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Sarahjane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belton
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coppinger
authors.forename: Muireann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dowd
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Layte
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murtagh
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D009043:Motor Activity; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013177:Sports