Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is an area where teachers have been particularly to the fore over the last ten or 15 years. The nature table is almost a thing of the past. Pupils now go out into nature and see it for themselves. I am very fortunate to live in an area where we have good biodiversity. There are many bogs around the area. These are wonderful places. It is good to see the younger children in particular going out to learn about these places. We need more boardwalks for people to be able to access bogland but that is a conversation for a different Department. This is a change of focus. Rather than just picking up acorns and bringing them in, children are out there seeing what biodiversity means. Their understanding of it is unique to them in certain ways and depends on the environment in which they have grown up. I thank Ms O'Connor.