Ms Monica Percy:

I wish to make a couple of points about the fun factor, particularly for children. Members saw the Step It Up campaign on the VTs. Children all over the country love that. Where I live the children do it every morning in school, and it is the same in national schools all over Ireland. Fun is the key to keeping children focused on keeping fit. If they are having fun, they go back to it again and again. It is the same with adults, and probably me. The same applies to food education and cooking. I have practical experience of this. During the programme my two children and I have been cooking at home and they love it. Perhaps we could facilitate something like that in national school. It need not be on a weekly basis but there could be cookery classes. Would it not be fantastic if every child leaving sixth class could cook a couple of dishes? When they eventually go off to college they will not be making beans on toast but healthy meals, and they will be able to shop properly. That is a massive contribution to society.