Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms McGowan. I wish to clarify that the process we are undertaking is separate from the NCCA review and we will be making our own independent findings and recommendations to the Minister and to the Department. We are interested in any extra papers or research the witnesses feel would be useful to our committee. We go to all the members for questions and comments and we will give the witnesses the opportunity to come back in. If there is any further information the witnesses would like to send on to us following the meeting, send this on to the clerk, Mr. Guidon, and he will ensure that all the members receive same. That will certainly add to the report when we have the opportunity to sit down and review it.

I thank all the witnesses for their experiences, wisdom and thoughts. There are some very clear lines of agreement among everybody in terms of the gaps of knowledge and the capacity building we need among our teachers and among the community at large. There were some very practical suggestions, which I believe will be very helpful.

I will now ask the members for their questions. Deputy Thomas Byrne is going to another committee meeting at 5 p.m.