Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Okay. There are two major points I want to raise. I raise again the situation in the Cork Life Centre. I know this was an overall review but this saga has been going on for some time. There has been back and forth but it seems to be difficult to finally get to an arrangement that allows Cork Life Centre to continue in a sustainable way and to retain the staff who are committed to the centre. I urge the Minister to do whatever is necessary to get that over the line and get the deal that will ensure the centre continues. This saga has been going on for three years, at least, in its latest iteration, and longer than that in different guises.

Another thing surprised me. I was not an education spokesperson when this report was commissioned. I did not realise until it was published that this did not include the national Youthreach programme, which to me is peculiar. It is the largest, by a distance, provider of "out-of-school education", which is the phrase in the report, or of alternative education. I know it is saying that the Minister, Deputy Harris's, Department will be represented on the implementation group but it is not clear how there is a single unified vision here for alternative education. This report, which has some good and some bad aspects, does not take the Youthreach picture into account. That is surprising. The report is done but it is about how we ensure it is all tied together and there is a unified vision because Youthreach does invaluable work. It could be described as further education but I am not sure it naturally belongs in that Department. There is an argument it might better belong in this Department. Be that as it may, will the Minister comment on why Youthreach was not included? How do we ensure there is a coherence to it all in the end?