Dr. Helene O'Keeffe:

In reference to Senator Ó Ríordáin's earlier question on increasing diversity and access to different groups and new communities, the heritage in schools scheme also allows for that. We have a panel of 160 heritage individuals who are experts in the realms of cultural heritage, built heritage and natural heritage. From a directory of experts, schools will book an expert to visit them. The expert will then visit the school and, usually, where possible, will bring the students outside to their local heritage site or to a local aspect of their own heritage so they can see what is around them and appreciate that intrinsic connection between their own place and their own heritage.

This facility has been incredibly successful in terms of accessibility and diversity up to this point in the year. We offer a system whereby the Heritage Council will pay a percentage of the expert's costs for the day and the school pays the balance. In addition, we offer a scheme for delivering equality of opportunities in schools, DEIS, whereby the Heritage Council will pay a greater percentage. This facilitates access for those schools to these heritage experts perhaps more than would otherwise have been the case. This year, 796 designated disadvantaged schools have availed of that Heritage Council service. It is allowing students to become more aware of, more familiar with and more appreciative of their local heritage and very much articulates the work of the Heritage Council in the context of its statutory obligation to educate and inform people about their heritage. I hope that covers it.