Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I begin by talking about the visionary announcement the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, made on the revised leaving certificate and secondary school reform. This is a real consensus and collaborative model. It is wonderful to see. Extensive consultation took place with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, teachers' unions, parent and student bodies and we did so at the joint committee. I wish to highlight some of the measures announced that are going to make a difference in enriching the school life of our students, empowering them as they face into the world of work or study after school and embedding well-being for them. As we know, there was huge consensus on the latter aspect during the two years of Covid. The introduction of the revised transition year programme is excellent, as is the fact some of the leaving certificate exams will take place at the end of fifth year, specifically English and Irish. It is important that there will be just 60% going on the written module. There is also the introduction of two new subjects, one being around the area of drama and theatre and the other centred on climate change and sustainable developmental work. They are hugely important and I look forward to seeing this being implemented. The purpose of the local just transition plan for west Kildare is to support and advance sustainable social, economic and environmental development in rural Kildare, including Athy, the Rathangan and Kildare town area, Allenwood, Derrinturn and Carbury. There was incredible consultation with small community groups, Kildare County Council and Bord na Móna. Some 15 actions have been identified. I want to highlight two more. One is about progressing the opportunity for a new national peatlands park. That would be the first national peatlands park in the country and the only national park in the midlands. Well done to director Joe Boland and to Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park. Mr. Boland has been highlighting this for some time. I also highlight the actions relating to the blueway and greenway and look for support and funding.

I raise the matter of a young girl called Kate Dempsey, who was very brave in talking about her experience of having her drink spiked in a club in my town, Newbridge. When she was taken to hospital, she was told that five women had presented with the same issue on the same night, which is shocking. It is important that anybody who has this experience goes to the gardaí and the owners. I am not suggesting that the nightclub had anything to do with this, but it is a crisis and we need to do more to support young women and young men to have a good, natural social life.