Ms Annie Sheppard:

One hundred per cent. Personally, I much rather physical activity to sitting down and learning. I play camogie and football. After school it is near impossible to get your homework and study done and try to go to training, try to eat something before going to training, get showered and everything else, and be ready for your next school day. Like was said earlier, you feel like a machine. You are told constantly to go home and learn that. Some people are able to just look at a sheet and to know it off by the next day, but I am nowhere near able. I would have to sit down for easily two hours to learn off a sheet of paper or whatever for the leaving certificate. That has been mentioned multiple times. We have started fifth year. It came as a big shock to us.

Going back to Deputy Conway-Walsh's question about physical activity, some people are the opposite and would probably rather do schoolwork or another hobby, but physical activity, I think, is so important, even for my own well-being. If I go out and train and then try to come back and study, I find it way easier to learn that piece or to do my homework. I get it done way quicker. Even going out for a walk with my mam or something in the evening after school, I just find it so important for young people's mental health and it should be emphasised more. We are very fortunate in that we get one hour of PE in fifth year still. It is the best hour of the whole week. It is just so nice to just take a break from schoolwork. I really think physical education should be emphasised.