Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. My request to the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is that she lead a new scheme to provide gymnasiums for existing schools which do not have them and that it be a cross-departmental scheme involving Departments such as the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Health and Transport, Tourism and Sport which all have a stake in children's lives in terms of their health and well-being. This is not existing policy, but it would be a very smart policy. I have experience of this in Galway. I refer to three schools in Galway city, Salerno secondary school in Salthill and the Mercy and Presentation secondary schools which it is proposed to amalgamate. Salerno secondary school has no gym, but it has raised money to contribute to the cost of one. It is begging for a new proposal from the Minister to help it to provide a gym for the 600 girls in the school. A couple of weeks ago I tabled a Commencement Matter which was taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, about the proposed amalgamation of the Mercy and the Presentation secondary schools. The site chosen by CEIST is the site of the Presentation secondary school which has no gym. However, the school which will be vacated does have one. When I asked the Minister of State whether there would be a new gym following the amalgamation, his answer was that the schools could use the proceeds of the sale of the Mercy secondary school site to fund one.

I need not tell the Minister of State about the evidence in favour of physical education and physical exercise. We know that we are facing a time bomb when it comes to obesity. Long before this time bomb emerged, there was much evidence showing that girls' interest in physical exercise decreased at second level unless it was made more interesting and appropriate to their needs. For the Government not to invest in the health and well-being of young girls is appalling and a missed opportunity. We are only storing up problems for the future. We must instil good lifestyle habits early. There is strong evidence in favour of this approach which I will not go into now.

The second issue is equity. I understand the pressing need for new accommodation and accept that all new schools have a gym, which is phenomenal. However, where is the equity for existing schools? The parents of children attending Salerno second school pay their taxes, as do the parents of children attending the Mercy and Presentation secondary schools. On that basis they should receive equity with equal access to facilities. I, therefore, request that the Minister for Education and Skills lead a scheme involving the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs and Transport, Tourism and Sport and perhaps the Department of Justice and Equality. It should not be impossible to do this; it is not mind-blowing. We need a new policy in order that the children concerned can have equity. I understand that in terms of the finances the community must give a figure of 20% or 40%, but the principle that existing schools which do not have a gym will not have one provided is fundamentally wrong. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply.