Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their contributions. Mr. Beddy's idea of gathering the stakeholders together is a good one; it is something the committee should recommend. I also agree that the school students' unions should be included in that gathering. In the case of primary school children, obviously the National Parents Council - Primary has access to many parents, but there are also student councils in most schools, in which each class has a representative. They could provide a mechanism in passing on information to children.

Two of the delegates have said they do not think legislating would be appropriate. Legislation is being prepared on a parents' and students' charter which might provide a mechanism in dealing with the issue. It would not involve a punitive legislative system whereby people would be criminalised if their children were carrying heavy schoolbags, but it would involve an enunciation of rights. Perhaps we might recommend that the appropriateness of the weight of schoolbags be included in the charter. In that way, we would not be pushing for the drafting of new legislation and would be linking the issue with legislation already promised. I ask the delegates to comment on this.

Ms Lynch made the point that it might be a question of having fewer books. One school of which I am aware facilitates the photocopying of pages from books required for homework in order that children can leave their books in lockers in school. I know that the availability of lockers, particularly in primary schools, is an issue. That said, most second level schools have facilities which allow students to leave at least some of their books in school. Perhaps all schools should have such facilities. I ask the delegates to comment on this. If students are using a very heavy chemistry or history book, for example, the class teacher could simply photocopy the relevant pages and give them to the students to take home, rather than the heavy book. I ask for comments on the practicality of doing this.

Dr. Dockrell said carrying a schoolbag could be seen as part of daily activity and that most children only carried a schoolbag for about ten minutes. Ms Lynch, on the other hand, said many parents would not allow their children to walk to school because their perception was that their schoolbags were too heavy. I ask Dr. Dockrell to address this issue. If parents think schoolbags are too heavy, they will not allow their children to walk to school. As a result, their children will not get exercise.