Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to the Chamber. He pioneered the action plan with the Action Plan for Jobs. As a way of a Department doing business, it was revolutionary at the time. He is bringing that same methodology to the Department of Education and Skills. It is slightly different in that the Action Plan for Jobs in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was very much commercially driven. Education is driven on the basis of education and social issues but nevertheless the mechanics are still worthwhile.

In my area of Limerick, parents have two issues at primary level. The first is class size, particularly at the lower end. Many school principals effectively factor in that junior infants, senior infants and first class are of a lower number. That would be very worthwhile and it is something we need to look at.

The second element that is coming up is the issue of physical education and obesity at a very young age. We need to seriously consider having PE as a subject at primary level. We need to plan for it. It would yield major benefits. It needs to be considered alongside diet. A growing number of children have diabetes, which is a modern feature that is alarming.

At secondary level, there are issues with the school transport system in Limerick. Much of the system is based on out-dated structures and locations of schools. People are qualifying for school transport based on a school that people in that area might have attended 20 years ago. That has evolved over time and, in some cases, the schools have closed. I know a review is under way. We need to consider the dynamic of the parishes where people are living, the schools they normally attend and the clubs they play for. We need to have an integrated model. I very much welcome that.

On third level, I attended UL, which pioneered work experience and co-operative education. The then president, Ed Walsh, modelled it on the Northeastern University in Boston that had pioneered co-operative education. It made students very employable. In most third level institutions, work experience and co-operative education is factored into most courses but not in all. We need to look at the issue. All third level courses should have some element of work experience or other practical input - be that for a BA in English or for accountancy. It would yield benefit.

We looked at apprenticeship schemes again here. They became unfashionable. People here need to see it as an educational career route, as it is regarded in Germany.

I raise a local issue that I have already discussed with the Minister - the two new secondary schools for Mungret and the greater Castletroy area. The process to appoint a patron is under way. When does the Minister expect decisions to be made? The school in Mungret is to be opened in September 2017 and the school is already holding open nights. The school in the greater Castletroy area is to be opened in September 2018. What is the status of that process? When will announcements be made? It is of huge concern to students and their parents living in the Mungret area and the greater Castletroy area.