Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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At the moment the programme is in 132 primary schools. Mr. Kelly stated in his opening statement that he has the great ambition "to roll it out to 1,600 schools by 2024, which would be half of all primary schools in the State". GROW at School is a wonderful initiative. I always think of primary schools in more rural areas like in counties Roscommon and Galway, and the west. One would imagine that schools in these locations would have a little bit of space but they also try to provide safe pick-up and drop-off zones, and to manage parking. One would be surprised to learn that schools in rural areas do not have a huge amount of space, and the schools are located on busy country roads and outside of 50 km/h zones.

In terms of schools accessing space, how does the GROW at School programme work? Do schools engage with the local authority or the neighbours around them? Is it plots at a school or window boxes in a room? I am curious to learn about the programme.

It is important for children to learn that working the soil is linked to where food comes from and now the planet must feed 8 billion people, which is 1 billion more people than 12 years ago. Is the understanding of the children with whom the programme works as to how food is grown and produced cultivated? Is the link between being active and eating healthily to protect one's health explained? Does the GROW at School programme convey to children an understanding of protein and carbohydrates? Are children taught that different types of food generate a certain type of energy?