Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a final question. Obviously, other Departments have to contribute to the education system, for example, child care. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for the school completion programme. There is a cross-departmental plan that must feed into the overall education system; it is not just down to the Minister. When the ERC is doing its research does it take into account other areas and Departments? Does it take account of social and environmental factors? Does it look at international best practice or does it solely examine the Irish system, how to improve it and the research that goes into that? Does it have the scope to examine the Scandinavian models, for example, and other such areas?