Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

That point on 1% per annum yielding €1.5 billion is a good place for me to start. If we had 1% per annum improvement in the fitness level of children, there could be a €3 billion saving to the health system. We had a debate on fitness among school children and Senator Eamonn Coghlan carried out a major survey on the issue. I would like to see more support given to that survey. The Physical Education Teachers Association of Ireland came out against Senator Coghlan in that regard because he was promoting 15 minutes of exercise in schools, which the association claimed was regimental.

A survey of schoolchildren in Athlone, highlighted in newspapers and on radio today, found that 70% were on the road to obesity. In addition, although I do not have the figures with me, the level of unfitness was worrying. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan has called in the Dáil for a well-known personality to promote fitness. While there is a lot of promotion, the Department of Education and Skills has obviously charged the physical education teachers of this country with promoting physical activity. I agree with them that their work includes more than just physical activity. They said in answer to Senator Coghlan that it was also holistic and social, and that the work should also be done by parents.

As questions have been raised, we must ask whether physical education should be included in the points system for the leaving certificate. Obesity in this country is at such a stage that I believe it should. I ask the Minister for Education and Skills to examine this issue to ascertain whether such a system could be introduced. It would be cheaper to give €5,000 to every child who was physically fit on finishing the leaving certificate than to counteract the problems ten years later if the child is not fit at the leaving certificate stage.

There are two points. First, how do we incentivise children to be fit and, second, what can we do about it? I commend Senator Coghlan on the work he has done. I condemn the Physical Education Teachers Association of Ireland for the big article in The Irish Times stating the association did not agree with that. I want the Minister for Education and Skills to take up this issue again and to ask whether we should introduce points. I believe we should, because the health of this country is involved. Obesity and diabetes are at outrageous levels and we should be considering preventive as well as current-day medicine.