Mr. Gerry Bennett:

I will introduce our team present. Mr. Patrick B. Diggins is the chairperson of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. Three members of the executive are here: Ms Louise Callaghan, Ms Helen O'Brien and Mr. Tony McCann. I work as the chief executive of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. We are delighted to be here and we would be most willing to provide the committee with any assistance we can.

The Edmund Rice Schools Trust has responsibility for 96 schools, secondary and primary, in the Republic of Ireland. The trust advises and supports its schools and their students, teachers, principals and voluntary boards of management, members, directors and staff in line with our charter. We have copies to the charter and would like to distribute them.