Mr. Leo Blennerhassett:

We are delighted to have the opportunity to present to the committee today about music in Ireland and Music Generation in particular. Ms Rosaleen Molloy, as national director, will take us through the meat of the presentation after a few quick introductory remarks from me. Music Generation is one of the most innovative initiatives in music education for children and young people since the foundation of the State. Our philanthropic donors, namely, U2 and The Ireland Funds, our partners in government, the Department of Education and Skills and the local education partnerships are very proud of what we have achieved. Our model is very much based on collaboration, public and private but also national and local. For me, as chairman of the board and for the board in general, as we visit periodically the places where Music Generation has touched, we are overcome in many ways by the impact it has on children and young people and on the microcosm of society that it reaches. The conversations we have had with these young people and with those who teach them and the musicians can in some respects be quite emotional in terms of the impact it has had. It echoes some of the things that have been said by the previous speakers regarding the impact of music on young people. I will hand over to Ms Molloy to take us through the presentation.