Ms Simonetta Ryan:

To clarify, the figure we gave for the number of responses to the expression of interest should be treated as tentative. We do not yet have a confirmed figure in that regard.

One of the issues that was highlighted in the first version of the Maynooth report was the cost of education allowance. The budget announcement of a €500 per annum increase in that allowance is one aspect of the work that is being done to assist people back to education. When representatives of the Department of Education and Skills met the Maynooth university people to discuss the first version of the report, there was agreement that there needed to be more in-depth analysis, including around the profiling of lone parents. There was a great deal of work to be done in the education space.

Quite a lot of additional work has been done by Maynooth, and that is why it has taken the extra time. While I have the report, I have to be honest and say I have not had time to go through it because we are focusing on getting the request for tender, RFT, moving ahead on the study and any other material the committee needs for today's meeting. There is a lot going on in my area. I know that getting that report finished is a priority of the Department of Education and Skills and I do not see it taking much longer. I imagine it will then have to go to Government, the Ministers and so on but it is very well advanced at this stage.

Deputy Brady asked if our own report would cover the issue of homelessness. Realistically, it will not be able to cover the issue of homelessness because that is such a big issue it almost needs a separate piece of research. Our report will also have to be done in a challenging timeframe and the issues it will cover are fairly broad, so I do not see it covering that issue.