Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister.

I welcome the recently launched Action Plan for Education for 2017. The most important thing in it is that it is going to improve the learner experience and the success of learners. The introduction of the new model of allocating teachers to improve mainstream support for special needs children is important, because no matter what school one is in, there are always a number of people with special needs. I am glad the area is being addressed, as well as that of educationally disadvantaged learners. The plan refers to helping to deliver those services to continuously improve and build stronger bridges between the educational and wider community. The setting up of the Parent and Student Charter is important because it is going to improve national planning. It is important to have a link between the wider community, the parents and the students who are the key to it.

The plan refers to the goal of well-being and mindfulness. I would like to refer to a mindfulness programme that was on RTE there recently on the six o'clock news. It was introduced in the primary school in Moyross. It has been a success story for the introduction of this programme. The principal was heard to have said that it created a calmness, and that the children are much more engaged and active. I would like to see it rolled out across all schools, because it is very positive.

There is a better choice of subjects in the junior cycle, and the Minister is introducing guidelines on mental health. I recently went to the launch of the Cycle Against Suicide programme with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee when she was in Limerick. It was an all-island approach. All the secondary schools were there. It was a positive programme. It is an area that needs emphasis. It also helps in reducing the stigma around mental health. It was a fantastic programme, and fantastic to see how engaged students and teachers were. They also listened to what was happening on the stage as well.

The early years programme in the Minister's plan is most important, because we have to engage with students at an early age and to continue that participation as students go forward. I have been at Our Lady of Lourdes national school in Limerick for many programmes, and it was one of the original pilot schemes for the early years programme. The level of engagement between students, parents and teachers was so important. It also brought the families on board as well. It encouraged them to get involved in the education of their children.

Under Goal 3, leadership, best practice and innovation are mentioned. They are key areas. Enterprise and greater career choice are also mentioned. Nowadays, people are looking towards what they are going to be down the road. Introducing both innovation and enterprise into the programme is positive.

We had a debate in the Seanad recently about history. The Minister's Department ran a history competition. It was a great success story. It was across both primary and secondary schools.

I refer to the school building programme. This is part of the plan. I welcome the Minister's announcement today of Thomond primary school in Limerick receiving its allocation of funding today. The Model primary school also received it recently. These are two schools that are delivering. One is in a disadvantaged area and the other is a mainstream school, but they are both delivering a worthwhile programme. There are people queueing up to get into these schools. It is important that this schools building programme be rolled out as money becomes available. It is to be welcomed that there will be 60,000 additional school places under that programme.

Another initiative is the tackling of the cost. A survey found that it cost €800 to send a child to secondary school and approximately €300 to send a child to a primary school. The possibility of generic uniforms is being looked at, which takes the emphasis off those who cannot afford to go out and buy the proper school uniform or accredited school uniform. In saying that, the Minister is looking towards helping out people with the book loan scheme, and also passing on books from one to another.

The Music Education Bursary Scheme has not been mentioned here today. This is most important. While children are being educated, our culture and our sport are important. There is encouragement for the education of these. Music has been introduced in all schools now. A very successful programme from my own experience in Limerick has been the involvement of the Irish Chamber Orchestra with many primary schools. It teaches children with the Sing Out with Strings programme. This has been very successful. It is to be welcomed if we can encourage more of these programmes.Encouraging more of these programmes is to be welcomed.

On the expansion of the DEIS programme to 79 further schools, I know some schools were very disappointed they did not qualify on this occasion but the fact the Department has encouraged schools, which are not happy they did not qualify, to engage with it is a very important message to send out.

I refer to the retention rates at second level and the emphasis on numeracy and literacy. No matter what school a child is in, numeracy and literacy are so important and they come into every subject.

I refer to the launch of the apprenticeship and traineeship programme, with a target of 50,000 apprenticeships and trainees by 2020. This is a very ambitious programme, which is very close to my heart and in which I take a particular interest. We now have craft-based apprenticeships - I think there are 27 in the programme - and there is a proposal to increase the number over the next number of years. Aiming to achieve 100 apprenticeships and 50 traineeships is very important but one area that has been highlighted to me, and think I raised this with the Minister before, is the shortage in the area of culinary skills. Our tourism sector is so dependent on people having traineeships and it is an area I would like the Minister to take a look at because the hospitality industry is concerned that there is a shortage of chefs and people in other areas.

The extra money for third level is to be welcomed. I was at a launch recently at the University of Limerick, which related to STEM subjects. There has been collaboration between the universities and industry and this should be encouraged. It is very important that is rolled out. Senator Gallagher referred to Brexit and I would also like to raise that issue.

I refer to the increase in grants for ICT. ICT has been introduced in a number of schools and, in terms of a changing global economy, this is most important. Coding and Mandarin have been spoken about, which I welcome. I also welcome the fact computer science has been introduced to the leaving certificate.