Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 17 be taken before Private Members' business. No. 17 is the Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013 - First Stage.

When the Minister for Education and Skills next comes to the House we should discuss the issue of school holidays. I recently read an article on the steps being taken in Britain to increase the number of school days and learning opportunities for children. If we are going to build a knowledge society we cannot afford three months of holidays every summer at secondary school level in addition to Easter holidays, Christmas holidays and days off for parent-teacher meetings and other events. There is a need for something else to take place. Children could study a foreign language or allocate some of that time to voluntary work. A great deal could be done in developing different kinds of education. It is worthy of discussion and I suggest that the next time we meet the Minister we include it on the agenda.